Countrywide trade union action to kick off tomorrow against govt.

28 February 2023 05:53 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A number of professional trade unions from the essential services sector, including power, petroleum, water, ports, teachers, university lecturers, and banks, assured that they will engage in a countrywide one-day strike tomorrow, Trade Union Alliance Convener Ranjan Jayalal said.

He said all trade unions would stand tomorrow against the government's decision to collect taxes from people.

Accordingly, trade unions representing the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), postal services, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) are among the main trade union groups taking part in the strike action.

Jayalal said all trade unions continuously demanded the government to withdraw the decisions that were implemented to collect taxes. But the government did not give any favorable responses to any of their requests, they said.

The Trade Union Alliance threatened the government that they would not obey any laws imposed by the government and said that there was no point in issuing an emergency gazette notification stating the services of the above sectors were essential.

"As long as the government does not listen to us, we will break the law and challenge the government to do everything possible to put an end to the trade union action," they said.

Meanwhile, Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, announced that they had decided to hold a daylong black protest in the education sector tomorrow. He requested all teachers and principals to attend schools wearing black bands or clothes. A black flag will be hoisted in front of every school, demanding the government provide immediate solutions to the issues in the education sector.

The CPC trade unions announced that they have decided to launch a work to rule campaign tomorrow. If something happened to the fuel distribution system in the country tomorrow, the government should take full responsibility, officials said.

CPC trade union convenor Jagath Wijegunawardana stated that the CPC makes a monthly profit of more than Rs. 6 billion. While gaining such profit, the CPC is in the process of handing over more than 450 filling stations to three foreign companies. They demand the government not give local filling stations to foreign companies and grant them medical allowances.

The Government and Semi-government Trade Union Alliance has decided to engage in duties while wearing black bands and hoisting black flags. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 14

Sunil Tuesday, 28 February 2023 06:20 PM

Best wishes for the success of this struggle.

Christo Tuesday, 28 February 2023 06:43 PM

Hammer all these buggers who ruined the corporations, government institutions by getting privileges under guise of trade unions. Majority of our workers in the private sector don't earn 100000 like these political traitors to the nation

Lakshman maddumahewa Tuesday, 28 February 2023 06:45 PM

Sack them all including selfish doctersin the world.satandby Dear president

High earners crying crocodile tears Tuesday, 28 February 2023 07:17 PM

The poor suffer enough. The high earners if they are capable can leave the country, but they are not that capable, so have to pay tax. Only the judicery can play tricks as judges to delay paying tax, so I am surprised the rest of professional not getting on to same legal tricks.

Don Harrison Tuesday, 28 February 2023 08:02 PM

I am saddened by the state of the economy of my motherland what I left 60 years ago . The voters of this country need to bring and end to this recurring Political pattern where few rule the masses against their wills.

Be Fair Tuesday, 28 February 2023 08:22 PM

All these guys are paid for by the Tax Payer. Why do you engage in this mess, because I will still pay my tax for your to protest is it?

Sam Silva Tuesday, 28 February 2023 11:38 PM

Yes including their taxes too. They are engaged in this mess because our country is in a mess and they don't want the mess to get any deeper. Sad you can't see it.

joshua Tuesday, 28 February 2023 09:02 PM

Your struggle is for the whole population

Sam Silva Tuesday, 28 February 2023 11:40 PM

For the population and mainly for the future generations to come.

Cheers Tuesday, 28 February 2023 11:11 PM

JVP and their plight along with trade unions creating carnage in country majority will never bore these ghoons and they are a destruction to the nation not a solution with a very bad leader leading the party and his children studying overseas

Ram Wednesday, 01 March 2023 01:23 AM

Government can direct the Police to have all their guns ready to kill a few protesters to quell the protest. Poor cops will suffer the consequences at the end

Kias Wednesday, 01 March 2023 03:18 AM

Your gimmicks are over trade unions are on there way to dustbin make no mistake about that

Abeygunaratna Wednesday, 01 March 2023 07:06 AM

High

kumar Wednesday, 01 March 2023 08:36 AM

I can't understand why these trade unions are worried when the majority of their members would fall into the tax free range and need taxes from the rich to provide their services. The alternative is to ask the Government to curtail its expenditure and discontinue the excess state employees.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Countrywide trade union action to kick off tomorrow against govt.

Comments - 14

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

An Int’l summit avoids Sri Lanka due to beggar menace in Colombo

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Sri Lanka weighs Open Skies amidst plans for national carrier privatization

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Uma Oya Development Project inaugurated

Gota fires back at Cardinal, rebuts allegations

MIRROR CRICKET

Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad

Big names miss out as Australia reveal squad for T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka ‘A’ prevail to take 2-0 lead

India announce squad for T20 World Cup

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Int’l summit avoids Sri Lanka due to beggar menace in Colombo

Ranil invited me to take up position in the government: CBK

NPP accepts Daily Mirror invitation for political debate, Sajith’s confirmation awaited

Three underage girls in love become victims of statutory rape

Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad

Rusty Sri Lanka subdue gritty India

Big names miss out as Australia reveal squad for T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka ‘A’ prevail to take 2-0 lead