Postal Trade Unions Continue Islandwide Strike for Second Day

COLOMBO (News 1st): The strike launched by postal trade unions continues for a second consecutive day today.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara stated that a significant backlog of mail has been observed mainly at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo due to the ongoing strike.

Postal trade unions have affirmed their decision to continue the strike without interruption.

The strike, which began at midnight on Sunday (17), was launched based on 19 key demands. 

These include the payment of overtime allowances and opposition to the use of biometric fingerprint systems for recording staff attendance and departure.

The Postal and Telecommunication Officers’ Association, along with the Joint Front of Postal Trade Unions, withdrew from duties and began their trade union action on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Following that, all postal offices across the island commenced the strike from midnight.

A total of 23 trade unions have joined the strike, including the United National Postal Employees’ Union, Sri Lanka Independent Postal and Telecommunication Public Service Union, United Postal and Telecommunication Officers’ Union, Sri Lanka Independent Postal Services Union, and the Sri Lanka Postal Workers’ Front.

However, the Lanka Postal Services Union has not supported the ongoing strike action.

According to reports, approximately 18,000 employees from 653 post offices and 70 administrative offices across the country are currently engaged in the strike.

Convener of the Joint Postal Trade Union Alliance, Chinthaka Bandara, stated that the strike will continue until a satisfactory solution is provided for their concerns.

Trade unions also point out that they resorted to this strike following the cancellation of leave for all postal workers.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara has requested the unions to call off their trade union action and return for discussions to resolve the matter.