Station masters facing social media ‘insults’

03 Jun 2021

Station masters facing social media ‘insults’

03 Jun 2021

By Buddhika Samaraweera The Sri Lanka Station Masters’ Union (SLSMU) is preparing to initiate legal action against the heads of two trade unions operating within the Department of Railways, alleging that they are acting in an insulting manner towards junior staff and station masters on social media. When contacted by The Morning, SLSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara said they are hoping to initiate legal action against Locomotive Engine Operators Union (LEOU) Secretary Indika Dodangoda and Railway Guards’ Association (RGA) Secretary Manura Peiris, as the duo, according to the SLSMU, continuously insult station masters and junior staff of the Department of Railways on social media. Chamara also alleged that certain individuals representing the two said unions, the LEOU and the RGA, had on several occasions made threatening phone calls to senior officials of the Department of Railways and station masters. “However, we did not go to the extent of taking legal action since all these unions are within the same Department, but now legal action is expected to be initiated in the near future as more such incidents have been reported,” he added. According to him, the manner in which the employees of the Department are being called to work these days has given rise to issues. “The LEOU and the RGA claim there is no need to employ station masters as travel restrictions are in place these days. But at present, oil transport trains are in operation. In addition, a limited number of trains are sometimes operated for essential services. Therefore, station masters should report to work,” he said. When contacted by The Morning, Peiris said the problems had arisen when he had pointed out on social media that there was no need to deploy station masters as travel restrictions are in effect these days. He said it was sufficient to keep only one junior staff member at one railway station and that there was no need to employ station masters and to then pay them overtime. However, Department of Railways Media Spokesman Gamini Seneviratne, speaking to The Morning, said station masters need to be deployed as there are cargo trains that are in operation. He also said that it was a decision taken at the Departmental level, noting further that station masters were not employed at railway stations located along railway lines on which trains are not running at present. It is learnt that when cargo trains are operated, only station masters operate the signals. So, if they are not called in for work, who will be responsible in the case of any accident, he queried. Attempts to contact Dodangoda to inquire about the issue proved futile.

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Station masters facing social media ‘insults’

Station masters facing social media ‘insults’

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