National Trade Union Centre kick starts its series of islandwide protests

By Dasun Edirisinghe | The Island
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Trade unions attached to the National Trade Union Centre protested at the National Hospital Colombo yesterday, as their first in a series of protests demanding a Rs. 8,000 salary hike immediately.

Convener of the NTUC, an umbrella association of comprising 364 state sector trade unions, Samantha Koralearachchi, addressing the workers at the National Hospital premises in Colombo, said the series of protests which began yesterday would go around the country till July 30.

"President Rajapaksa promised to increase the salaries of public sector employees by Rs. 2500 in the run - up to the Presidential election in January, but did not honour his pledge even through the 2010 budget which was passed by parliament a week ago," Koralearachchi said.

He said as the prices of almost all essential goods have increased, government employees expected at least a Rs. 8,000 pay hike.

This being the first protest of a series of islandwide protest campaigns employees from the education, transport and local administrative sectors would join the next protest, Koralearachchi said.

Meanwhile, Public Service Trade Union Alliance will sign a petition demanding the promised Rs. 2,500 pay hike at the Eye Hospital premises today.

Convener of the PSTUA Saman Rathnapriya, said the petition was to be handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa shortly.

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