VRS collective urges action against CEB strike

Colombo, Feb. 26 (Daily Mirror) - A collective representing more than 2,000 employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) who have opted for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) has strongly condemned the recent token strike launched by several CEB trade unions, describing the action as illegal and politically motivated.

In a letter addressed to the Energy Minister, the group said that the trade union action was unsuccessful, claiming that less than 25 per cent of employees participated despite what they described as threats from certain union leaders.

The collective said it had previously advised all VRS applicants not to take part in any action aimed at disrupting the ongoing reform process of the CEB or furthering what it termed anti-government political agendas. 

According to the statement, no VRS applicants participated in the token strike and they have pledged not to engage in any similar actions in the future.

The employees emphasized that electricity supply has been declared an essential service by Presidential Order under the Essential Public Services Act. They pointed out that under Section 2(2) of the Act, it is a criminal offence for any employee in a declared essential service to fail to report to work, refuse to perform duties, or engage in acts that impede, obstruct, delay, or restrict the provision of the service.

They further said that Section 6 of the Act removes trade union protections in such instances, stating that participation in a strike organized by a trade union cannot be used as a legal defence if prosecuted under the law.

In light of this legislation, the VRS employee collective urged authorities to take action against union executives who directed the strike, arguing that the matter should be treated as a criminal offence rather than a protected labour dispute.

The group also called on the Minister not to be deterred by what it described as union threats, and requested the swift gazetting of the “Appointed Date” to facilitate the final phase of the CEB reform process.

Additionally, the collective appealed for VRS employees to be granted approved no-pay leave in the event of any unforeseen delays in gazetting the appointed date, until the reform process is formally advanced.