'Ceylon Federation of Labour will not participate in strike action'

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Ceylon Federation of Labour has announced it will not take part in the proposed strike action of the JVP-led National Trade Union Centre to be held on July 10.

The Federations president Percy Wickremesekera has said in letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa that neither the Federation of Labour nor its affiliates will enter the strike.

He had said that the National Trade Union Centre had decided this trade union action after discussing with trade unions controlled by them and the Federation did not have any part in this process.

Wickremesekera had said, they were pleased with the President's recent decision to pass an allocation of Rs. 1,000 to the Government servants from July 1, although in the Federation's belief that this sum is by no means sufficient.

Meanwhile, the National Trade Union Centre president, MP Lal Kantha had said, they would go ahead with their intended strike action unless their demand for the salary increase of Rs. 5,000 for all workers was met.

Lal Kantha had said in a letter to the President, they have declared the strike action on July 10, for their demand regarding the Rs. 5,000 salary increase.

Lal Kantha has also said in his letter that the President has still time to decide on the matter.