Petroleum Minister A. H. M. Fowzie yesterday urged petroleum workers to drop their plan for a three-day ‘work-to-rule’ campaign beginning today (Oct 11) as the government was willing to grant a 22 per cent salary increase in keeping with a collective agreement between them. He said that the government would ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel even if workers went ahead with planned trade union campaign.

A spokesman for CPC union affiliated to the JVP told The Island that the government could no longer reach a separate agreement with CPC workers. He said that any future talks should also involve CEB, Water Board and Port workers along with their CPC colleagues in keeping with a recent decision.

Meanwhile, JVP trade union leader Lal Kantha, MP yesterday told a gathering of supporters that their campaign had already caused trouble. He said that they would continue until the government agreed to negotiate with the newly formed trade union alliance.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday said that the government had the strength to meet trade union threat and take necessary steps to thwart the latest attempt to disrupt essential services. Taking part in a live political programme telecast over state and private television channels, he said that his government had never turned a blind eye to reasonable demands of workers. He said that the entire country had been liberated from LTTE terrorism after 30 years. He urged workers to think twice before resorting to trade union action as it would have a detrimental impact on the economy.