Port go-slow move, SLFP TU no hand

Channa Kasturisinghe

TRADE UNION: The trade union affiliated to Sri Lanka Freedom Party does not support the go-slow campaign started by a section of workers to disrupt activities in the Colombo Port.

An Executive Committee member of the union L.L. Dharmadasa yesterday told the Daily News that some unions have commenced a go-slow campaign with ulterior political motives rather than for the welfare of the workers. “The Government has taken measures to minimize salary anomalies in the SLPA. We have to support that move,” he said.

He said in December 2004 the Government increased salaries of all the workers by Rs. 2,500 and introduced reasonable salary reforms.

“According to the reforms the workers of lowest salary category were given a 62 percent salary increase while others got a 40 percent increase. In addition to that the Government increased the cost of living allowance and other allowances. Today, the workers of lowest salary scale earn about Rs. 21,000,” Dharmadasa said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Saliya Wickramasuriya who met shipping industry stake holders has said that many port workers consider the trade union action taken by some sectiors of the workers is an unreasonable course of action.

“The Chairman said that the Government is well aware of the serious repercussion of this irresponsible action by some workers. However, he informed us that the authorities would not simply give into the unions demands but work towards bring in a lasting solution to the SLPA workers problems,” the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers Council Jayanath Perera told the Daily News.