Strike, a success - Lal Kantha

Claiming that the token strike presently underway has been a success, Chairman of the National Trade Union Centre, K.D. Lal Kantha said the future course of union action would be based on the experience gained today.

Speaking to media, he said that if the government does not positively respond to this token strike, which is indicative of supportive and disruptive forces, the NTUC would resort to a stronger union action.

Pointing out that nearly 660 trade unions of the NTUC have launched the strike, the JVP MP said that other trade unions were not invited, as it was only a token strike.

However, it is heartening to note that a large number of other trade unions, including the National Workers Union, have joined the effort, he said, adding they would consider a collective and more expansive action in the future.

Responding to Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma’s claim that the strike was a failure, Mr. Lal Kantha said that a considerable number of train and CTB workers joined the protest.

However, transport services continue to be largely unaffected following government threats to CTB workers to report for duty.

Claiming that 94 locomotive drivers had joined the strike, the NTUC chairman said that the government was operating train services with the assistance of remaining and retired drivers.

Though the Transport Minister challenged to stop at least one bus from being in service, more than one bus is off the roads, he said.

Despite threats, police intimidations and government propaganda through the state media to sabotage the strike, the token strike has been a success, he said.

According to him, 70 per cent of teachers, 95 pc of staff at the Central Mail Exchange, 60 pc of railway staff and 94 locomotive drivers, 72 pc of hospital staff, 95 pc of staff at the State Printing Corporation, 40 pc of staff at the SLBC and 65 pc of the SLRC are striking today, Mr. Lal Kantha said.

In addition, 75 pc of staff at the Auditor General’s Department, all employees of the National Film Corporation’s Advertising and Counters, 50 pc of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation and 16 monitoring centres of the Meteorology Department stayed away from their duties, he added.

Noting that estate workers too, contributed, the NTUC Chairman said that workers at estates in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Welimada, Ratnapura and Matara joined the strike.