Unions reject Govt. offer, general strike looms...

The extra allowance of Rs. 1,000 offered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to public servants on Sunday was rejected by a majority of trade unions representing almost the entire public sector as the amount was insufficient and nowhere near what they expected, union leaders said.

The National Trade Union Centre – an alliance of 366 private and public sector trade unions  said the offer of Rs. 1,000 was a poor consolation when the demand was for a monthly increase of Rs. 5,000.

“The NTUC’s demand for a minimum pay increase of Rs. 5,000 is based on the cost of living index, which had increased by 2,430 points since the last pay rise in 2006. As such the offer of Rs. 1,000 hardly meets the expectations of public servants who are struggling to make ends meet under difficult conditions,” its president and JVP front-liner K.D. Lalkantha said.

In a letter to President Rajapaksa rejecting the offer of Rs. 1,000, Mr. Lalkantha said the one-day strike on July 10 would be held as planned if the government failed to increase the public servant’s monthly salary by Rs. 5,000.

Health Service Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) – an alliance of 55 trade unions said the membership rejected the Rs. 1000 increase offered by President Rajapaksa as it was insufficient.

“Our main concern is to have our salary anomalies arising from the 6/2006 circular rectified. The anomaly has been further aggravated after the recent 100 per cent salary increase granted to doctors. The Treasury has not allocated necessary funds to service this salary increase and as such the increment is being funded by monies allocated for recurrent expenditure leading to a cut in amounts allocated for health employees’ overtime,” HSTUA Secretary Ravi Kumudesh said.

He said the HSTUA too would go ahead with the planned July 10 token strike.

All Ceylon Railway Employees General Trade Union Secretary Sumathipala Manawadu said the government could not please railway employees in the manner kids were kept quiet by giving them candy.

“Since 2006, the cost of living has increased by 300 per cent and to off set this the government is offering an extra allowance Rs. 1000.

Ceylon Teachers Service Union Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said the membership flatly rejected the offer of Rs. 1000.

“We have a salary anomaly which is going on unresolved for 11 years. This has resulted in the Teachers’ salaries being cut by between Rs. 2,000 and 3,000 a month. Hence, no teacher can accept this increase of Rs. 1,000. We wholeheartedly support the proposed July 10 token strike and further trade union action after that if necessary to win our demands,” Mr. Jayasinghe said.

Postal and Telecommunication Officers Union Secretary K.S. Weerasekara said the membership was not satisfied with the President’s offer.

“We are demanding a salary increase of Rs. 8,000 a month, a cost of living allowance at the rate of Rs. 2.50 for each point increase and a reduction in the railway season ticket fare which is increased by 400%,” he said.