A major crisis looms on the plantation sector as workers in some estates had begun to refuse loading tea to vehicles demanding a wage hike.
All Ceylon Estate Workers Union President Ramalingam Chandrasekar told the Daily Mirror that some estate labourers in a few estates had begun to refrain from loading tea onto trucks demanding a wage hike. He said the workers have begun this action on their own without the influence of trade unions.
Mr. Ramalingam said trade union action might be imminent if the wage issue was not resolved soon.
He charged that employers were dragging their feet on negotiations with the trade union representatives who were signatories of the collective agreement.
He said his union and several others would meet on Sunday to decide on a new course of action.
Up Country Workers Union Leader S. Sathasivam also confirmed that some workers had begun a limited action in few estates in the hills.
The UNP led Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union which is a signatory to the collective agreement also said it would be compelled to resort to trade union action if the negotiations dragged on without a settlement.
However the CWC which is the biggest and most powerful trade union is keeping mum about the issue though it initially warned of action if a sizeable wage hike was not agreed upon. Senior CWC member and Deputy Minister Muttu Sivalingam when contacted by us, declined to disclose any information on the issue, but said the negotiations were continuing.
The latest round of talks between the trade unions and the employers took place on Wednesday when the employers came out with a fresh deal only to be rejected by the unions.
Employers are of the opinion that they cannot afford to give a sizeable wage hike as their profits had declined.
The Daily Mirror learns that only 11 of 31 companies who were signatories of the collective agreement are making a profit. Besides the tea prices were on the decline as a result of the Libyan crisis. Libya is said to be one of the biggest buyers of Sri Lankan tea according to the latest market indicators.
All Ceylon Estate Workers Union President Ramalingam Chandrasekar told the Daily Mirror that some estate labourers in a few estates had begun to refrain from loading tea onto trucks demanding a wage hike. He said the workers have begun this action on their own without the influence of trade unions.
Mr. Ramalingam said trade union action might be imminent if the wage issue was not resolved soon.
He charged that employers were dragging their feet on negotiations with the trade union representatives who were signatories of the collective agreement.
He said his union and several others would meet on Sunday to decide on a new course of action.
Up Country Workers Union Leader S. Sathasivam also confirmed that some workers had begun a limited action in few estates in the hills.
The UNP led Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union which is a signatory to the collective agreement also said it would be compelled to resort to trade union action if the negotiations dragged on without a settlement.
However the CWC which is the biggest and most powerful trade union is keeping mum about the issue though it initially warned of action if a sizeable wage hike was not agreed upon. Senior CWC member and Deputy Minister Muttu Sivalingam when contacted by us, declined to disclose any information on the issue, but said the negotiations were continuing.
The latest round of talks between the trade unions and the employers took place on Wednesday when the employers came out with a fresh deal only to be rejected by the unions.
Employers are of the opinion that they cannot afford to give a sizeable wage hike as their profits had declined.
The Daily Mirror learns that only 11 of 31 companies who were signatories of the collective agreement are making a profit. Besides the tea prices were on the decline as a result of the Libyan crisis. Libya is said to be one of the biggest buyers of Sri Lankan tea according to the latest market indicators.
