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| Saturday, 31 January 2004 |
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A health worker engaged in the death fast was admitted to the National Hospital yesterday due to his deteriorated condition as the death fast entered its fifth day yesterday. According to the Health Workers Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA), the health condition of three other hunger strikers were also in a bad and were given saline last evening. "However they are not willing to give up their death fast until the Government takes steps to solve the issues through a gazette notification," a trade union spokesman told the Daily News last night. He said the Government had come up with a positive solution for their demands and the Trade Union Alliance Executive Committee had decided to make some changes to those proposals and forward to the Health Secretary today at 9 a.m. for consideration. "If they agree to accept our amendments and issue a gazette notification with Treasury approval in this regard, we are willing to give up our trade union action," the spokesman added. According to him at the discussion with Health Minister P. Dayaratne, Land Minister Rajitha Senaratne and the Deputy Treasury Secretary, the government agreed to pay 60 per cent of the due arrears on the rectified salaries to be paid this month, 15 per cent in September and the balance 25 per cent in 2005. The health service was affected countrywide since the health workers showed solidarity towards fasting health workers after engaging in a sick note campaign. According to sources, some basic services in hospitals were affected due to this situation. Rail strike enters fifth day by Ranil Wijayapala The countrywide rail strike launched by more than 60 powerful trade unions enters its fifth day today with no sign of a settlement as striking trade unions pressing the government for the withdrawal of the Railway Authority Bill and the Government rejecting the demand. Nearly 300,000 commuters were the victims of the dispute being stranded at bus stands since the available bus services were not enough to meet their demand. The government, though stood firm on their decision not to heed on the trade union demand for the withdrawal of the Railway Authority gazette notification, yesterday. It, however, made alternative proposals to the striking trade unions. According to K.V. Jayasena, Co-convenor of the Railway Trade Union Federation and Railway Trade Union Front, the Government came out with proposals to hand over the powers vested with the Railway Authority Chairman back to the General Manager of Railways for a temporary period until the problem is solved. However, the proposal would lead to a more confused situation and the trade unions were pressing the Government for a withdrawal of the Railway Authority Bill since workers rights were severely affected from it. However, he said they were in the process of educating their membership about this proposal before taking a decision. The government came out with this proposal when the striking trade union met a Prime Ministerial delegation led by Lands Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Advisor to the Prime Minister K.V. Paskeralingam and Dinesh Dodangoda. However, Railway Authority Chairman H.P. Manatunga when contacted by the Daily News last night said that he was not aware of such a discussion.
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