Maithri – Ranil regime gearing to suppress trade unions

FRIDAY, 05 AUGUST 2016

Maithri – Ranil administration, just as Mahinda Regime did, is taking first steps to repress trade unions by threatening them. The government, through the Chairman of UGC, has issued a threatening order to non-academic employees of the universities who are carrying out a strike action at present.

The order states all members of non-academic staffs in universities who are on strike should report for duties today (5th) and those  probationary and are under  training who do not report for duties would be considered as having vacated their posts if they fail to report to duties tomorrow,

Instead of using its state power on those who are engaged in a strike action the government should have listened to them and fulfil their just demands. However, what the government has chosen to do is to use its state power and suppress trade union action.

During former Mahinda Rajapaksa regime state power was used step by step to repress trade unions, student movement and mass protest campaigns and finally this move ended in using weapons to suppress mass movements.

The media spokesman of University Trade Union Joint Committee K.L.D.G. Richmond sspeaking to the media government’s oppressive actions cannot halt their trade union action.

They would have to take strict trade union action if the government proceeds to suppress workers and ignore their just demands said Mr. Richmond.