brand logo

Station masters warn of continued strike after token strike

13 Jan 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Railway station masters went on a 24-hour token strike in protest over the continuous cancellation of long distance train services, the alleged improper administration of train staff, and the non-implementation of the normal train schedule, according to the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU). Speaking to The Morning, SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara said that the station masters withdrew from all their duties from 12 midnight on Wednesday (12) to 12 midnight yesterday (13). He said that about 200 train turns were cancelled due to the said strike action. “The administration of the Railways Department is continuing to postpone the resumption of long distance train services, causing inconvenience to both the staff and passengers. Despite our protests on several occasions, demanding that they be resumed, no solution has been given to this issue.” In addition, he said that a number of other issues related to the operation of the trains have arisen at present and charged that the Railways Department is not heeding their requests to resolve such issues.  Chamara warned that if the Railways Department does not take immediate action to resolve these issues even after the 24-hour-long token strike, the SLRSMU will launch a continuous strike action with the support of the other trade unions within the department in the coming days. Railways Department General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara was not available for comment. Speaking to The Morning on Wednesday, Chamara claimed that despite the Railways Department announcing on several occasions that long distance train services which had been cancelled for more than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic would be resumed, such trains have not been resumed yet. He claimed that due to the irresponsible actions of the management of the Railways Department, the SLRSMU even had to resort to trade union action on behalf of the passengers, demanding that the long distance trains be resumed. “Following the trade union action the SLRSMU launched, the Railways Department announced on 25 December 2021 that several long distance trains would be resumed on 27 December 2021. However, those trains were cancelled again on 27 December itself at 4.30 p.m. It was again announced on 30 December 2021 that long distance trains would be resumed on 1 January 2022, but was again postponed until 2 January 2022,” he alleged. Chamara further claimed that the Railways Department had, on 7 January 2022, announced that the said services would be resumed from 10 January 2022, but that they were once again postponed until Wednesday on 9 January 2022. He added that several long distance train services scheduled to commence on Wednesday were suddenly cancelled at 12.15 p.m. on the same day. When contacted by The Morning, Jayasundara, on 3 January 2022, said that there was a shortage of railway guards and engine driving assistants which had resulted in the delay in the resumption of the said service. However, he said that immediate steps would be taken to recruit the railway guards and engine driver assistants under a contract basis, after which the long distance service would be resumed.


More News..