• Postal strike continues 

The Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) announced that an indefinite strike has been launched yesterday (21) across 31 hospitals under the Western Provincial Council (WPC), in protest against the implementation of last year’s (2024) transfer orders, which they claim were issued amid serious irregularities and strong opposition. 

Accordingly, radiographers, medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists have joined the strike action. As stated by the JCPSM General Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrama, the strike commenced at 8 a.m. He also noted that the trade union action has been carried out across 31 hospitals under the WPC due to the failure to receive proper solutions to their demands from the authorities.

Earlier, on Wednesday (20), the JCPSM launched an unannounced trade union action at 8 a.m. at the Gampaha District General Hospital. According to Dharmawickrama, the sudden move was triggered by a letter issued by the Director of the Hospital, instructing allied health professionals not to sign attendance records, which prompted all such staff to withdraw from duties at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Postal and Telecommunication Officers’ Union has announced that the trade union action initiated by postal workers on 17 August continued for the fourth consecutive day yesterday, affecting postal operations across the country. According to Union representatives, the strike is based on 19 key demands, including the payment of overtime allowances for postal officers and opposition to the directive requiring officers in administrative and accounts offices to record attendance using fingerprint machines. 

Postal unions are not prepared to call off their ongoing strike to engage in discussions with the authorities, the Co- Convenor of the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front, Chinthaka Bandara added. Speaking regarding the ongoing postal strike, Bandara emphasised that no meetings have been initiated by the subject (Mass Media) Minister (Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa) to discuss their demands. He noted that although both the Postmaster General and the subject Minister had requested the unions to call off their strike action and come to the negotiation table, the unions are not prepared to do so unless their demands are met. Bandara further revealed that nearly 1.7 million letters and parcels have now piled up at post offices across the country due to the ongoing strike.