P Placard Sri Lanka

198/19, Panchikawatta Rd, Colombo 10,

Volume 04
Sri lanka.
Tele. - +94-112595566, +94-115358782
Fax - +94-115358783
Web - www.unions.lk
email - actuflk@sltnet.lk

Issue - 01
iceulk@sltnet.lk

Sep/Oct 2009

Workers start
Trade Union Action
The working Class The government has three months the Trade Union one day strike on 28th
of Sri Lanka has been also forgotten the government cut the Federation expressed J u ly ag ain s t th e
made silent by the war rights of the working Cost of living its dissatisfaction to government.
during the last year, class after the victory. allowance of the the government and According to the
but after the victory of Three months ago, public servants sent a communiqué to global economic crisis,
they finished the war promised by President the President . the private sector has
the war, they started
but the problems of Mahinda Rajapaksa in There are number of also collapsed and more
their struggle. The
the country have sky the 2006 Budget. The problems faced by the than hundred
militarily defeat of the companies have been
rocketed during that President promised employees of the
LTTE was a great closed and pushed
time. During the war, the public servants a Railway Department,
victory for Sri Health Department, 80,000 workers out
the government said sum of Rs.2.50 for
Lankans and so the each increasing point Sri Lanka Transport from their jobs. The
that they wasted
working class also billions & billions of of cost of living index. Board, Ceylon Inter Company
supported the rupees on the war and Because the cost of Electricity Board, etc. Employees Union has
government. insisted that the living index rose very They have already formed a new
But the government working people high that allowance resorted to trade union organization called the
failed to solve the war should not demand was brought down Rs action. The Ceylon National Centre for the
related problems of Sri salary increases or any 375/= per month . Electricity Board
Lanka and is trying to other benefits during The All Ceylon Union alliance called Page 6
give a solution through that period.
devolution of power. After the war, within Raising Voices for the Rights...

CEB STRIKE
THE LAND SINKS IN BLUE
The token strike said that , as a
which was called by result of the strike ,
the Joint Trade Union several electricity
Federation of the failures were reported
Ceylon Electricity from Badulla,
Board demanding Moneragala,
salary increments. The Kaulthara and
90% of the employees Ambalangoda areas.
of CEB took part in The action taken
trade union action. by the government to
The demonstration conducted by CEB employees
The Power failures are disrupt the strike by
demanding their salary increment, to do away the proposed
reported from the canceling leaves of all
Bill of CEB privatization etc... in front of the Head office of
various parts of the electricity board
Ceylon Electricity Board, in Colombo
island. A spokesman employees.

A joint publication of All Ceylon Trade Union Federation, Inter Company Employees Union and All Ceylon Estate Workers' Union
02 Sep/Oct 2009

Unilever Sri Lanka branch News Page

begins Suppression
rights for a long mentioned in basic Port Worker On Protest
period, Unilever law of the country and
employees have to make possible
Demanding For……
joined with the Inter arrangements to
Company Employees reinstate the The All Ceylon regarding the salary
Union. As revenge for employees by Port Workers Union increments was a
this, the company has ensuring their rights. staged a protest in flop.
terminated the The Convener from front of “Khan The Secretary of The
employees. Inter Company Clock tower” in Fort All Ceylon Port
The Inter Company The Inter Company Employees Union Colombo, Workers Union
Employees' Union Employees Union has stated that the demanding for an Comrade Chandrasiri
states that the Unilever informed to the board complained had been immediate payment Mahagamage said
Sri Lanka branch has of management of made by, to The of agreed salary that in addition to the
terminated 79 Unilever Sri Lanka Commissioner increment. difficulties faced by
employees with effect branch stating that General of Labour to According to the the workers in day to
from 10th of Aug. taking a membership take appropriate legal collective agreement day living due to
2009. Because of of a trade union is a action against such signed by the trade cancelling overtime
slashing of employees fundamental right as suppression. unions and the works, there is also an
management, the imminent danger of
Doctors voice against salary increments
were due in January
loosing their houses
and lands purchased

Private Medical Colleges 2009. However

A seminar on “Lets get together
against , free education right
obliterating, free health service
jeopardizing, private medical
colleges” organized by All
Ceylon Government Medical
Officers Association, was held on
3rd of August at public library
auditorium, Colombo.
The Lectures were delivered by
Professor H.Sriyananda,
agreed salary
with hard earned
money and loans,
specialist medical officer Dr. increments were not being acquired by the
Deshapriya Dias, president of All paid to the workers banks. Comrade
Ceylon Government Medical up to now. The Chandarasiri
union said that there Mahagamage further
Officers Association
had no response revealed that the
Dr.Gishantha Dassanayake, and management doesn't
from the relevant
Medical Students Action Minister to any of have any interest to
Committee member Mr. Nilan the letters sent by regenerate the income
Fernando. The intellectuals of them. On the other lost by the port or to
various organizations and hand the discussion increase salaries and
sectors had participated to the too with Minister allow workers to do
event.

BOARD OF INVESTMENT No Salary Increments

OF SRI LANKA,
WORKERS ON PROTEST
The Workers of BOI staged a protest
campaign at Fort Lake House roundabout on
15th against neglecting the workers demands,
promotions & annual increments, handing
over the BOI functions to The Department of
Customs.
Around 2000 companies approved under
BOI have been engaging in Import Export
trade activities. And BOI has been directly
handling these functions up to now. But the
government has already made arrangements to
withdraw these functions from BOI and
handed them over to the department of
Customs.
In addition to neglecting worker demands,
there is also an attempt made by the
management to demote workers from their
present grades.
To Bank Employees
It is reported that the Collective Agreement
for state bank employees are already
delayed by six months. The Collective
Agreement for 2006/2008 expired on last
December. The State Bank employees have
been facing tremendous difficulties due to
the delay in signing the agreement.
Although the discussions regarding the
collective agreement were held in three
times, no much more attention being paid
on salary increment. During the last 2
months discussions have come to a
standstill. Salary increments for the State
Bank employees are carried out once in
every three years. The Employees of State
Banks express their displeasure for depriving them and delaying of salary
increments even after three years.
Sep/Oct 2009
03
PP lacard
Sri Lanka
198/19, Panchikawatta Rd,
Colombo 10, Sri lanka.
To Defeat The Separatism...
The LTTE which on 9th septhember the Sinhala, Muslim
Tele. +94-112595566, waged war for a 1973 Mr. and Tamil people.
+94-115358782 separate state has Amirthalingam They did every this
Fax - +94-115358783 requested the Tamil
already been thy could do to win
Web - www.unions.lk
email - actuflk@sltnet.lk defeated. youth in public to the Ealam by lighting
iceulk@sltnet.lk rise to win the Tamil the fire of racism
LTTE is a terrorist
Ealam. The against each other.
organization that
provoking incidents Their activities paved
Separatism…. fought for a separate
were done by the the way for racist
state, but the leaders
Rally Against of the Mensheviks in
youth of the Tamil leaders of the Sinhala
United Front since and Muslim ethnic
the south and certain
The Country situation is worst. 1972. groups, to kindle the
foreigners named it
The economic condition has been fire of racism in order
as a liberation It was from the
wrecked by the global economic to reach their goals.
movement. It was point, that the Tamil
crisis. The social atmosphere has
only the late Mr. United Front as the The LTTE
been over polluted. The peace and
social order have n't been ensured Rohana Wijeweera, mass section of the massacred Sinhala and
and gauranteed. “The Right to life” the late leader of the Ealam movement and Muslim people in
once again has been challenged JVP, pointed out the Tigers as its whole villages. Infants
by, the civilians were tortured and correctly that it was armed section came were slaughtered by
killed in the custudy of police. The an organization that in to effect. hitting against the
democracy is a mere word and the acts placing the
There is a clear
rocks. Even the
law and order has vanished from racisim and
definition for a
pregnant mothers were
the land. The whims and fancies separatism in one
national liberation
also brutally
of the rulers have been secured line. The book “What murdered. They
movement in
for by the politicians. Such a land is the solution for the murdered the clergy
Marxism. Maxims is
we are being… Tamil Ealam” also. How can such a
against the
written by Mr. movement be called a
The terrorism had been Rohana Wijeweera
Localization, racism
liberation movement?
defeated. But alone with the and dividing people
clarifies that well and
terrorism the “separatism” or into ethnic groups. When the Tamil
many other reasons
“Localization” hasn't been defeated. And it is against the United Front weakend
no one could breake
It is being intentionally assisted and demands for separate in the parliament later,
the argument put
promoted by the government with states for separate the LTTE sent their
forward by the JVP.
the help of international beaugeois ethnic groups, by representatives under
movement. The separatism has As the movement dividing unitary the name “Tamil
been vehimently condemned by to separate Sri Lanka states. National
the general public in various is linked with the Organization" They
occasions casting their votes. The right to self
west (Yankee) rasied their voice in
determination or self
The Trade union movement and
imperialism. the parliament for the
autonomy or under
progressive people of the country Ealam. They rose the
Tamil United Front whatever banner it
make their gatherings against the voice of the
(this become this stages, the Marxism
situation. The all Sri Lankans, separatism in the
Tamil United is totally against the
Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims parliament, but they
Liberation Front divisionalization of a
want to live hand in hand, not to later) was built in unitary state and
did not bring the
separate making barbed wire or 1972. The leader of it form states on the
suppressed people's
wall boundaries. The Trade Union was Mr. basis of ethnic
voice into it.
Movement is leading the mass to differences. LTTE is
Amirthalingam, at Truly what we
defeat collectively, and to restore an organization
the annual should do today is to
the peace and order in the land
Convention of the which comprised of start a national
for all.
Federal party (Tamil all those evils. It
Page 7
Arasu Kachchi) held made grudges among
Sep/Oct 2009
04-05
decided to programmes very lower 2009 increasing state income
he global employees institutions. undertake the had been started. income. On the according to the percentage in is 11%. Above all
from Europe
financial situation alone with their The duty and the management of, The mineral sand other hand the sources of one year is by figures are
countries due to.
has been melting family members responsibility of some of those range at Kirinda government is central bank of 16%, in the 1st extracted from
The government
down constantly. have come on to the supervisory institutions under was privatized. seeking for IMF Sri Lanka the quarter of 2009 the source of
has no proper
The most of the the streets, body of central the management The marine Oil loan to run the estimated state the estimated central bank
action plan to
countries' Conducting bank haven't of Bank of Ceylon service Ltd which country. The state debt amount is income couldn't reports.
welfare them or
economies have demonstrations been made and People's provided oil to the debt has gone sky Rs.402078 be reached. On the other compensate. As
been affected and protesting properly. The Bank of Sri ships of foreign rocketing. At the Billions. In Hence the state hand the well as there are
badly. Only very campaign against most of them are Lanka. The nail and local was end of the year o comparing to the debt once again industrial morethan
few countries the government. privet sector on the heads of privatized. Some the last year. The last year. The e has gone up by productions have 300,000 people in
could remain They charge on institution. The the IDP camps
unaffecting. Due the supervisory bank of Ceylinco due to prevailed
to the crisis, body Savings, The war situation in

SRI LANKA
Some of countries (committee) of Bank of Seylan the Northern part
including Sri central bank of Merchant, The of the country.
Lanka economies Sri Lanka and on Bank of Seylan,
have been pushed the government The Finance Plc The workers of
back in that not making and Asian both public and
private sector are

IN THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL MELT

considerable level. supervisory role Finance Plc etc…
over the are some them, struggling for
As a Society
accounts of those and the their rights most
the Sri Lanka's
financial government specially seeking
Social
for annual Salary
environment is
increments. The
shrinking gone down.
Hence the economy is Rs. 69 billions.
various type of
financially, the customers, major Hotels According to the trade union
Politically, morally gradually wrecking. The depositors and belonged to the On the other department of actions have been
etc.. in employees of Hotel Cooperation hand in the census and
budget deficit for year implementing for.
unbelievable those were privatized at month of March statistics in 1st
2009 is Rs.795.615 The students are
stand. Some of institutions. It is
the very low rate. 2009 the quarter of year taking action
financial million (Sri Lankan the unexpected The 670 sqkm of treasury bills 2009; 96000 against the
institutions have social issue and coastal belt of amounting Rs. industrial
Rupees). so that the government. The
been closedown. remain eastern province 43.1 billions have workers have
informal sector
The government privatization unresolved. including the been issued to been terminated. workers are also
had to take natural harbor of the market. The But they weren't rallying around
programmes had been The Sri Lankan
private sector
appropriate Trincomalee had compensated
government is against the
measures to started. The Mineral been reserved for banks and public yet. There are lot
also in trouble. government
prevent the close Indian economic sector banks of Sri Lankans
Sand Range at Kirinda No financial
aren't in a
policies. The
but failed zone. The 2000 who were abroad farmers are going
assistance and
ultimately. More has been privatized. The arces of Sampoor position to returned home
foreign aid had to leave the fields
than 40000 division have release a loan to with empty hand.
marine Oil service Ltd crept in to the and comes on to
employees of said been sold to build gavernment. So From UAE with in the streets
which provided oil to economy. Hence
financial a private power that the 6th month 2009
the economy is demanding to
institutions have the ships of foreign and (electricity) plant governments' about 36000
gradually reduce the prices
been laid-off from and finally the strategy is employees came of subsidiaries
local was privatized. wrecking. The
their legislation are impose the taxes back because of
budget deficit and the prices of
employments. Some major Hotels being done to on. The 89% of the economic
for year 2009 is essential goods.
Nothing any doll privatized the the state income crisis in the
belonged to the Hotel Rs.795.615
now is depending world. Also there
The National
has been Ceylon electricity
million (Sri Trade Union
approved or Cooperation were Board Currently. on the taxation. are Thousands of Centre (NTUC) is
Lankan Rupees).
granted by the Through those all The Sri Lankans
privatized at the very so that the seeking to handle
government or means the government's returned home
low rate. privatization the them all in
other relevant government had non taxational
other hand in the constructive way.
authorities. Those very lower state income is
06 Sep/Oct 2009

EXTEND SUPPORT
TO BTUC
The 8th annual (ACTUF) was
convention of invited to represent
Bangladesh Trade for the event.
Union Centre (BTUC) Comrade Mahinda
th th
was held on 9 and 10 Jayasinghe the
July 2009. Also The coordinator of All
All Ceylon Trade Ceylon Trade Union
Union Federation Federation and the
General Secretary build international Union Movement
of Ceylon Teachers relationships. Also and on its political
Service Union the discussions had background. We
represented as been made by him should highly
delegator extending with leftist political appreciate for inviting
the international parties such as us to take part with the
solidarity and Communist Party and convention of BTUC.
support for. Workers Party of Also we would like to
The delegators of Bangladesh. During once again extend our
Nepal Trade Union those session--s we support and cordial
Movement, and could understand the solidarity to BTUC
Indian Trade Unions social and political and for its all
also represented the background of members. We can
convention. Bangladesh and the make sure on BTUC
Com. Mahinada strength of its labour that they will
Jayasinghe said that movement. On the overcome and defeat
the ACTUF had the other hand those very soon the
great opportunity to parties could be made undemocratic
exchange the views understand on the situations of
of each other of power and strength of Bangladesh.
delegators and to Sri Lankan Trade

IMF in Action Conti...

In Dept of Post Workers.....

Job Losers, and
they have started
from page 01

estate workers.
Because of the
n o w b e i n g struggling to win postponement, The
implemented. But the their rights. All All Ceylon Estate
p r o c e s s o f private sector Workers Union has
implementing the workers in the planned trade union
conditions is closure country are actions to seek
of public counters, suffering and solutions.
The union says that of Lanka Postal curtailing the getting ready for According to the
the government has Service Union told us employees rights, trade union actions. situation the
decided to close down that normally the post down seizing the On the other hand, President of the
the public counters on offices were kept open public properties The Estate Sector National Trade
Saturdays. for six days a week. belonged to the workers are Union Centre,
When the union With the government department. This is the unhappy about the comrade Lal Kantha
questioned at a meeting new decision the very critical situation. shortcomings of the MP, pointed out to
held with the post people wouldn't be We have called upon government the placard that if the
able to have the postal the all Trade Unions in especially on their government failed to
master general, he has
the trade to common low salaries. The solve these problems
told that the decision department's service
platform, and to take Government has faced by the working
has been taken by the on Saturday.
join Trade Union postponed the class, there would be
government and not by Further he said that
actions to over come signing of the island wide trade
him. the conditions
the issue. collective union action in the
Comrade Rohana imposed by the IMF near future.
agreement for
Fernando The secretary granting the loan are
Sep/Oct 2009
EMPLOYERS VIOLATE
THE C-AGREEMENT
WORKERS STRUGGLE
The estate
workers work
according to the
collective
agreement signed
b y t h e Tr a d e
Union on behalf
of workers.The
implementing
collective
agreement was
signed in 2006 and ended by March of 2009.
But the efforts have not been made yet by the
relevant parties to sign the collective agreement
even though three months passed. Com.
Ramalingam Chandrasekaran; The Chairman
of The All Ceylon Estate Workers Union said to
the PLACARD that the new collective
agreement has not yet been signed. The
previous collective agreement is not valid now.
The All Ceylon Estate Workers Union as one
party of the agreement discussed three
occasions with the employers. But they didn’t
give their consent to increase the basic salary
scale. The reason according to them, that the
prices of Tea and Rubber in market have been
decreased. This is completely incorrect. During
last few months the prices of Tea and Rubber
have been increased. We are not going to allow
them to cheat the workers hereinafter in such
manner. We have planned to take steps to
discuss with other trade unions. We demand
that the basic salaries should be increased by the
employers without cheating. Unless, we have
decided to under go the trade union activities
along with other trade unions.
More details about
unions activities?
Go to
www.unions.lk
Employees of FTZs
In Danger...
Comrade Janaka Adhikari, The
General Secretary of the Inter
Trade Zone Employees
Association said that all afforts
made by relevant organizations
to control the continuing
economic crisis in that sector
have failed, right now.
On Private sector concerns,
especially within The Free
Trade Zones employees have
been sacked from jobs to
minimize expenditure in order
to face this economic crisis.
However with the collapse of
the markets in Europe and in
the western countries, many
local manufacturers had to
reduce production or to shut
down. Comrade Adhikari
further stated that Investors in
the Free Trade Zones of Sri
Lanka have brought this matter
to the notice of the Board of
Investment of Sri Lanka at
several occasions.
07
Since last April, a large number
of private companies have
closed down consequently
about 50,000 employees have
lost their jobs. Being an
employee of FTZ, receives
lower standard salary, the
economic collapse has seriously
affected the lives of large sector
of the employees. The overtime
payments and allowances have
been slashed and the employees
are neglected.
Because of this situation about
20,000 employees have left
their workplaces during the past
05 months, Comrade Adhikari
said.
He further said that sacking of
employees and cutting down
their payments are against the
law. Therefore The Free Trade
Zone Employees Association
would take trade union actions
and legal actions against.

Conti.....

To defeat... from page 03 the last local Organizations ready the country will
government election to come in to power definitely fall into
liberation struggle ideologistical for Jaffna municipal by milking the racism another racist war.
by joining together struggle aimed on council R. and separatism not However according
all the ethnic groups. them. Sampanthan asked defected, the people to the way the
The Sri Lankans Now the LTTE has people to bring them in North and South Rajapaksa regime
would be able to been defeated by in to power if they will surely be in a acts, hoping such a
gain the real arms. But still the (people) want an cruel war again. They positive solution is
liberation only separatism ideology Ealam. In a time are trying to get the also a falling on to a
through such a wide haunts. Certain when the LTTE has help from the west as miracle. So that the
struggle leveled powers are been defeated, the well as from India. wide front
against the continuously trying people in the north If the Rajapaksa comprising of all the
imperialism, pro- to give life to this has become helpless. regime does not ethnic groups is
imperialistic ideology. Specially in If the Tamil National understand all these n needy of the day.
capitalists and
Placard
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Job Losers
Lineup To Register
egistration of job losers in Sri
Lanka was conducted by the
"National Centre For Job Losers" at
Colombo on September 1st, 2009. The
large number of job losers got the
registration of the "National Centre For
Job Losers" .
Commenting to PLACARD on the
registration of members to the centre,
Comrade Wasantha Samarasighe the
convener of the centre said that the
government has agreed to fulfill the
demands put forwarded by, on behalf of
the job losers, before end of September.
If the government fails to fulfill those
promises by this date , the National
Centre is going to launch a massive
protest.

The Protesting Campaign conducted by the All

Ceylon General Ports Employees Union of Sri
Lanka Port Authority demanding their salary
increment in front of the main entrance of the port,
Colombo Fort.