United Trade Union Front of the CEB has decided to join employees of banks, ports, Water Resources Board and Petroleum Corporation for a continuous strike action if solutions for their demands are not met within two weeks. As a result of the one day token strike action carried out by the United Trade Union Front of the CEB power supply in many areas in the island including several areas in Badulla, Monaragala and Kandy was interrupted. At the CEB head office where nearly 1800 are employed only about 300 had turned up for their duties.
Mr. Ranjan Jayalal, Member of the Steering Committee of the United Trade Union Front of the CEB speaking to `Lankatruth` said despite the attempt of CEB authorities to sabotage the token strike by cancelling all leave, more than 13,000 CEB employees joined the one day token strike. He said the token strike was carried out to demand the payment of salary increase given to employees once in three years and there was no need for the employees to breakdown power supply. He said the salary increment was due in January this year but so far the government has not taken any measures to pay it.
As a result of the token strike launched yesterday payment of electricity bills, laying of cables as well as office work in all depots and maintenance work was hindered. If there is no satisfactory response from authorities for the just demands of the CEB employees the unions would take steps to launch an island wide continuous strike jointly with employees of banks, port, Water Resources Board and Petroleum Corporation and the day the strike is launched would be decided in two weeks time when representatives of the unions of these institutions meet.