PM and trade unions set for crucial talks
December 12, 2015 12:32 pm
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to hold talks with trade union representatives today, to discuss the proposals put forward in the 2016 Budget.
Several trade unions have announced plans to launch an island-wide strike on Tuesday (Dec 15) in protest of certain budget proposals. This is also expected to feature in today’s discussions, it has been reported.
However, Saman Rathnapriya, the co-convenor of a collective of government, semi-government and private sector trade unions, says that they would resort to strike action on Tuesday if proper solutions are not provided at the discussion today.
The railways department is also expecting a solution with this regard, said the Convener of the Railways Professional Trade Union Alliance, Janaka Fernando.
Chairman of the Joint Council of Health Service Unions, Ajith P. Thilakarathna, says that health services across the country would come to a standstill if they are not given solutions.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament yesterday that he does not intend to provide the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) with an opportunity to discuss trade union issues.
