Warning from Public Service Trade Union Chief

Lakmini RODRIGO

COLOMBO: If the Public Sector Salary Review Trade Unions Committee (PSSRTUC) carries out with its threat to scrap the ballot papers at the polling booths on the Local Elections day as a mark of protest, the Public Service Trade Union (PSTU) will pull out from the PSSRTUC, its President W. H. Piyadasa said.

He told the Daily News that his signature had been transferred via computer technique to the statement issued to announce that his Union was backing the PSSRTUC threat to boycott the local elections in the events Government fails to resolve salary anomalies created by the Public Administration circular 1/2006 which had led to many hazards over the past weeks. "But we do not share their views in boycotting the elections," he said.

Piyadasa pointed out that while pretending to stand up for the lower ranking workers, the PSSRTUC was trying to stop the public from using their vote which is one of their basic rights.

The salary circular 1/2006 had been the cause of many hazards in the Government sector, with many parties pointing out anomalies in the suggested salary structure.

Meanwhile, the PSSRTUC told the Daily News that they would meet on March 26 to decide on action that should be taken if the Government fails to respond to their demand by then and on March 28 would review their decision whether to continue with the decision to ask the membership to scrap the ballot papers or what should they do to register their protest.