REFUGEE

The joint trade union of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) called an emergency meeting today (27) to discuss the future course of action to be adopted to continue agitating for their demands as there has so far been no positive response from the government.

Convener of the trade union, D.J. Rajakaruna told us that they have been unable to meet the President to discuss their issues although they were hopeful of meeting him yesterday (26).

He said it was unfair to invite only the SLFP trade union at the CPC for the discussion with the President when majority of the CPC workers participated in the work to rule campaign launched by the joint trade union calling for a

Rs. 5,000 allowance until their due salary increments were made.

Rajakaruna said the work to rule campaign was a success because members of seven trade unions participated in it and that a reasonable agreement could not be reached by holding a discussion only with one trade union, leaving out six others.

He said the CPC Chairman and the board of directors have decided to pay an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to the employees until the increments are given and that the government needed to implement this decision.

However, Rajakaruna said an important discussion to decide on the future course of action would be held today (27).

- Unionslanka

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had informed members of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) SLFP trade unions during a discussion yesterday (26) that there would not be any salary increments for public sector employees in 2009 due to the expenditure the government has had to incur on the war and the resettlement of the war displaced and that a salary increment would be given with arrears for the employees in 2010.

Although Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie promised to organize a meeting between members of the Joint Trade Union that launched a work to rule campaign last week demanding a salary increment, none of the trade unions that

participated in the trade union action was invited for the meeting with the President.

Western province Governor Alavi Moulana headed the delegation of CPC SLFP trade unions and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge, Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera, Minister Fowzie and Ministry Secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando participated in the discussion with the President.
The CPC Joint Trade Union demanded that the government either paid them the salary increment that was due for 2009 or a Rs. 5,000 salary increment. The SLFP unions did not participate in the work to rule campaign.