CEB to provide continuous power supply despite strike threat
Chaminda PERERA
The Ceylon Electricity Board(CEB) yesterday said that it is capable
of providing a continuous power supply to all parts of the country
irrespective of trade union action which was scheduled to be launched by
certain trade unions of the Board from midnight yesterday.
According to CEB chairman Dr. Wimaladharma Abeywickrema, a handful of
trade unions announced that they would go for a 24 hour token strike
from midnight yesterday, demanding that their salary anomalies be
rectified, at a time a committee has been appointed to look into the
salary anomalies of the employees. He said several trade unions and
engineers have informed him that they would not participate in the trade
union action.
“The Board will obtain their service to ensure continuous power
supply to all parts of the country”, he said.
The chairman added that the Board will be able to rectify break downs
and power failures with the staff who will be on duty today.
He said the demands of these trade unions are unfair at a time the
board is incurring heavy losses for depending on fuel guzzling thermal
power due to drought experienced in the catchment areas. Dr.
Abeywickrema said the CEB employees are receiving a higher salary with
other perks when compared to employees of other statuary boards and
government institutions.
He added that all trade unions agreed to a 25 per cent salary
increase last year and they agreed to solve issues pertaining to salary
anomalies through discussions at a meeting held at Temple Trees under
the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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