• Warns action from 27 Feb if demands ignored

A faction of trade unions attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced plans to launch strike action from 27 February if their eight demands are not met and authorities proceed with a proposal to restructure the utility.

The warning comes as the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination concludes tomorrow (26).

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (24), Kosala Abeysinghe, President of the CEB Technicians’ Union, said the unions had formally notified the Ministry of Energy of their decision.

“We will be starting the strike just after the Exam. We have officially written to the Energy Ministry informing them of our decision, but we have not received any response yet,” he said.

Abeysinghe stated the unions’ demands include issues related to salaries, allowances, recruitment, and administrative policies. He added that the planned action would also be triggered if the CEB moves ahead with a plan to dissolve the Board into four separate State-owned companies.

CEB sources said management remained open to discussions and expressed hope that further dialogue with union representatives and the Ministry would prevent disruption to electricity services.

The threatened strike raises concerns over possible impacts on power sector operations if negotiations fail. Further talks are expected following the conclusion of the Examination.

According to Abeysinghe, the unions are demanding that all financial and non-financial privileges of the workers in the CEB be confirmed in a collective agreement, and that there be no reduction in the existing benefits. The union asks for written assurance by tomorrow that no privilege will be curtailed. 

The union also demands a comprehensive audit of CEB assets, including land and vehicles, to be completed and presented to the General Manager before the date the CEB is to be liquidated. Additionally, they are seeking revisions to the employee handbook and transfer plans, which they claim affect workers directly, and a fair salary increment with a promised livelihood allowance to address long-standing wage disparities. 

Attempts to contact the CEB regarding the concerns were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the National Electricity Policy has not yet been presented to the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet convened on Monday (23), but, no Cabinet papers relating to the Policy have been submitted, delaying necessary Cabinet approval for the policy. As a result, the restructuring process of the CEB has also been postponed, and the date for the CEB’s eventual liquidation is expected to be deferred.

The restructuring of the CEB was carried out under five phases, of which four have now been completed. The drafting of the Policy is also reportedly completed, and the liquidation date of the CEB is set to be announced once Cabinet approval is obtained.

Earlier, the CEB had indicated the relevant gazette notification for the policy would be issued on 28 February.