Electricity Trade Unions Call Off Strike – Special Statement from Minister
The strike launched by electricity trade unions has been suspended.
The decision was taken following a discussion held this afternoon (11) with the Labour Commissioner and the chairpersons of the newly established electricity companies.
During the meeting, the Labour Commissioner stated that the trade unions would be given an opportunity tomorrow (12) to hold discussions with the President.
The electricity trade union action, which began on the afternoon of the 9th, resulted in several power outages across a number of areas and also disrupted maintenance services.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, issuing a special statement after the strike ended, said that the electricity trade unions—who had launched the strike demanding their “pound of flesh,” much like the merchant in The Merchant of Venice—had finally come to understand the reality of the situation.
The minister noted that the power outages in certain areas due to the strike had caused considerable inconvenience to the public, which he described as regrettable.
However, he said it was encouraging that the unions had accepted the reality of the situation, halted their strike threats, and returned to work.
He further stated that the government, which represents the working people and is committed to protecting workers’ rights as never before in history, would continue to safeguard those rights while ensuring that the benefits of progress in the energy sector are delivered to both the country and its people.
The minister also emphasized that, in accordance with the policy announced by the National People’s Power (NPP), the process of restructuring the electricity sector is being implemented successfully as part of the broader effort to develop the power industry.