A collective representing employees who opted for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) has condemned a token strike launched by several trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), calling the industrial action illegal.
In a letter addressed to the minister in charge of energy, the VRS Employees’ Collective said the trade union action violated existing laws and regulations governing essential services.
The group said the strike failed despite threats allegedly issued by union leaders, noting that fewer than 25% of employees participated in the action. It stressed that its members were instructed not to take part in any activity aimed at disrupting the ongoing reform process at the CEB or supporting what it described as politically motivated agendas against the government.
The collective said none of its members joined the token strike and reaffirmed that it would not participate in any future actions intended to obstruct reforms.
It also urged the energy minister not to be intimidated by union pressure and called for the final stage of the reform process to be expedited through the gazetting of the designated date in the interest of the country.
The group further requested that, if there is a delay in gazetting the relevant date, employees be allowed to take approved unpaid leave until the process is completed, according to the letter. (NewsWire)
