In the wake of Friday’s attack on a group of CPC workers outside the Kolonnawa oil installation, the JVP-UNP trade union combine which spearheaded a three-day ‘work – to – rule’ campaign at the CPC, the SLPA, the Water Supply and Drainage Board (WSDB) and the CEB will meet today (Nov 16) to decide on further trade union action.

They are demanding immediate salary increase with effect from January 1 this year in keeping with separate collective agreements between the government and the respective work forces.

Trade union representatives told The Island that CPC, SLPA and WSDB workers would decide whether to join a three-day strike called by CEB unions though a date was to be decided. Sources said that they would continue with ‘work-to-rule’ until a decision was taken on the planned strike.

Chandrasiri Mahagamage, spokesman for an SLPA union affiliated to the JVP said they had failed to resolve the issue though Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa met them on Sunday (Nov 15).

"The Minister offered us a Rs. 4,000 monthly allowance. But, what we wanted was to increase our basic salary by Rs. 1,000 and the rest as an allowance," he said.

Mahagamage accused the government of bringing thugs to the Colombo Port premises on Saturday afternoon to force employees to work at the Jaya Container Terminal. There had been about 25 persons armed with clubs but workers chased them away, he said, warning the government not to aggravate the situation.

He said that thugs could not have entered without being accompanied by senior officials due to strict security restrictions imposed even on workers at the Jaya Container Terminal.

Chairman of the SLPA Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema told The Island that disruptive elements had assaulted some workers. He emphasised that there was absolutely no truth in the union’s claim.

"We offered them a 4,000 rupee allowance but they did not accept it. They demanded that Rs. 1000 be added to the basic salary, but we offered to increase the basic salary by Rs. 500 which they refused. It is clear that there is another objective as regards their work – to – rule campaign," Dr. Wickrema said.

Convener of the Combined Trade Union Alliance of the CPC, D. J. Rajakaruna said that Friday’s attack had forced them to step up their campaign otherwise we would have suspended work – to – rule campaign on that day. "Thugs on the payroll of ruling party politicians attacked employees twice near the Kolonnawa Installation," he said.

Ranjan Jayalal of CEB trade union affiliated to the JVP said that they would decide today on a day to launch a three day strike.

He said that they would not accept the government’s offer of a 22 per cent salary increment. But whatever the percentage, it should be effective from January this year and that would not be negotiable. He said that the minimum amount which one employee would receive is Rs. 30,000. But, the government had wanted workers to forego their arrears for the sake of the armed forces.

Co – Convener of the Combined Trade Union Committee of the WSDB, engineer Upali Ratnayake said they would not accept a 22 per cent salary increment. According to the rules and regulations of the WSDB, they should receive a 33 per cent salary hike.

Ratnayake rejected a government call to give up arrears with effect from January this year and settle for a 22 per cent salary increase with effect from last month.

Chairman of the CEB, E. A. S. K. Edirisinghe told The Island that the CEB could restore services even if unions continued with their action. "We’ll meet their threat," he said adding that the majority of workers would accept a 22 per cent salary increase and abandon their campaign.