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| Sunday, 31 August 2003 |
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Railways strike postponed by Deepal Warnakulasuriya The 48-hour railways strike scheduled for September 1 and 2 by the Joint Alliance of Railways Trade Union (JARTU) has been postponed for three weeks following discussions the union members had with the Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge. The Union Chairman K.V. Jayasena told the 'Sunday Observer' that Minister Lokuge had promised to solve their problems within three weeks. However, Jayasena said that if the Government failed to keep to their promises by September 15, they would go on strike from midnight September 18 until their demands were met. The JARTU which includes engine drivers, station masters, guards and railway controllers, are demanding a salary increase of 33.31 per cent and the restoration of certain privileges lost when the Railway Department became an Authority. The union claims they were also assured a pension when they joined the Authority, and compensation for those who declined to do so. The JARTU claims they were promised with the salary increment, when they lent their support to the Authority. "We have also asked for the right to challenge the Authority decisions in courts and Minister Lokuge said that we already have it", Jayasena said. |
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