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| Thursday, 2 December 2004 |
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by Rajmi Manatunga Ten sub-station masters commenced a fast unto death campaign in front of the Colombo Fort railway station yesterday demanding permanent status for sub-station masters in the Railways Department. The fast is held parallel to an islandwide strike by sub-station masters islandwide. A spokesman for the Sub-Station Masters' Union told the Daily News that they would continue the fast until measures are taken to meet their demands. "Transport Minister Felix Perera in October pledged to ensure our job security within one month and directed the General Manager of Railways to obtain the Attorney General's advice regarding the matter. But the railway authorities have not taken any interest in this matter," he said. According to the Union, there are around 140 sub-station masters employed in 158 sub-railway stations islandwide who have not been absorbed into the permanent cadre of the Department. Meanwhile, Assistant General Manager of Railways W. D. Jayasinghe commenting on the trade union action said that there was no way that the strikers could be made permanent. "Actually they are not sub-station masters. They are ticket agents who have entered into a contract with the Department. Moreover, the Department holds an examination every year whereby qualified agents are made permanent. Therefore, their demands are extremely unfair," he said adding that the strike had no impact on train operations. |
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