Electricity trade unions have declared that they will not back down from their ongoing trade union actions despite what they describe as threats from the President and the Minister.
The unions have been engaged in a work-to-rule campaign since the 4th of this month, protesting against the proposed restructuring of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board (CEB).
As part of the second phase of their action, electricity workers staged a two-day sick leave campaign on the 17th and 18th of this month, which concluded yesterday (18).
The work-to-rule campaign will continue, union representatives confirmed. Dhanushka Parakramasinghe, an executive committee member of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board Engineers’ Association, told Divaina that the unions would meet either yesterday evening or today (19) to decide on further trade union actions in response to the government’s plan to divide the CEB into four entities.
Meanwhile, Ajith Devapriya, Secretary of the National Employees’ Union of the CEB, addressing a media briefing yesterday, made the following statement:
“The President spoke in a threatening manner, but we are not afraid of those threats. Such words are unbecoming of a President who speaks of democracy. We will not abandon our jobs out of fear. This is not a job we obtained from the President to act as he wishes. We ask the President to present the truth to the country and not to incite the public.
If fair compensation is provided, we are ready to leave. However, we have not requested to resign. If there are employees who choose to leave, the government must take steps to ensure justice is done for them.”
