CEB trade unions to stage six-hour token strike today

The trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are planning a six-hour token strike today, from noon to 6:00 p.m. on the 26th. They are taking this action because their demands have not been met by the authorities. The unions informed Minister of Power and Energy, Kumara Jayakody, of their decision in a letter. In this letter, they mentioned that they have not received a positive reply regarding their eight demands. A meeting on February 10 at the Ministry of Finance, which included the Minister of Energy, the Deputy Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, ended without an agreement, according to the unions. Another meeting on February 16 with the CEB Chairman and union representatives also did not lead to a solution. Due to the ongoing delays in addressing what they consider reasonable demands, the unions feel they have no choice but to take this action. They also stated in the letter that the CEB employees and their unions will not be held accountable for any negative impacts from the strike, and that the Minister responsible and the current government should take full responsibility.