Trade union coalition for a just society comprising 52 trade unions, the biggest gathering of trade unions pledged its support to common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the forthcoming Presidential Election, at a media conference held yesterday. The trade union coalition beseeched 6.4 million workers in the country to use their vote to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election.
At a meeting held in the office of Opposition common candidate, coalition of unions declared its resolve to defeat Mahinda and bring in a change of government. 42 government and semi-government trade unions and 10 private sector unions took part in the event. LSSP and CP unions also participated.
Saman Rathnapriya, President, Government. Nursing Officers Association stressed that “They are fully committed to defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa who is using his powers to suppress trade unions and the workers. Break-down in good governance, economy, democratic structures, cultural values, law and order and public services are the main cause of worries the country is facing at present, when we agitate against these injustices government use force against us using police and the security forces.
It then goes to Geneva and tell them that they have ensured workers rights in this country quite satisfactorily. The real malady is in the system of Executive Presidency, which we are fully committed to abolishing. Our effort is to bring about a people friendly government.
Suranga Nawullage, JSS President, Gemunu Wijeratna, President All Ceylon Private Bus Operators Union, D. W. Subasingha, Ceylon Trade Union Federation President, representing Communist Party, Udeni Dissanayake, Public Service Assistants Union President and Chinthaka Bandara, All Ceylon Postal Employees Union President addressed the media conference.