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CEB engineers to stage six-hour token strike tomorrow
Colombo, Feb. 25 (Daily Mirror) - The CEB Technical Engineers and Superintendents Association has scheduled a six-hour token strike tomorrow (26), citing the government’s failure to respond to eight trade union demands.
Association Vice President Nandana Udayakumara told the Daily Mirror that the strike will commence at 12 noon. He said the warning had already been formally communicated to the Energy Minister and other relevant authorities.
“If the government gazettes the dissolution of the CEB without fulfilling the promises made to employees during the restructuring process, we will launch a strike without prior notice,” Udayakumara said.
He added that 24 electricity sector trade unions, including the Engineers’ Association, the Technical Engineers and Officers’ Association, and the Industrial Technicians’ Association, are preparing to join the strike.
“Once industrial action begins, no maintenance or repairs will be carried out. Authorities may be compelled to switch off the main grids to ensure system safety,” he warned.
However, he assured that the strike would not disrupt the ongoing cricket tournament, Parliament sittings, Defence Ministry activities or operations at the General Hospital. He also noted that students sitting the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination tomorrow would not be affected, as the relevant subject examination is scheduled to conclude at 11.30 a.m., prior to the commencement of the strike.
The Association further warned that once the gazette establishing six new subsidiary companies is issued, industrial action could bring the nation’s main power grids to a standstill.
It stressed that the government must provide solutions to its demands within the six-hour strike period, failing which the situation could further escalate.
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