10.7.2008
While National Trade Union Center
(NTUC) Chairman K.D. Lal Kantha said that the strike was
successful, Minister Dallus Alahapperuma introduced it as
the most unsuccessful one in the strike history.
Mr.
Lal Kantha said that the NTUC put 366 of its unions in
strike to asses the ways and means the government would
use to suppress the strike. He said that the real strike
would commence soon.
He further said that the NTUC needed to assess the response
of the state, private and estate sector workers to the
strike call and that target was achieved.
660
trade unions joined the island wide strike held after
28 years. The demands of the strike were Rs. 5000 wage
hike for state and private workers, Rs. 500 per day salary
for estate workers, cost of living allowance and reducing
the bus and railway fares.
Minister of Transport Dallus Alahapperuma commenting on
the strike said that it was futile and the bus and railway
services were better than an average day. Thanking thetransport
workers, the Minister asked the MP Lal Kantha not to worry
and not to resign from the parliament as he vowed to do
if the strike failed.
LeN