Grama Niladhari (GN) officers’ unions assert that the union action initiated by GN officers islandwide over salary and allowance-related demands will resume upon the conclusion of the Presidential Election.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (27), they claimed that their union action, which was launched several months ago and which continued until early this month, mainly in the form of protests and a work-to-rule action, have only been provisionally suspended. The All-Island Freedom GN Union’s Secretary and the GN Trade Union Alliance’s Convenor Jagath Chandralal stressed that this temporary suspension of union action should not be considered the conclusion of the GN officers’ struggle, as their issues and demands are yet to be addressed. 

“The union action came to a temporary halt because GN officers do not want it to affect the Presidential Election,” he said, adding that the directives issued by the higher levels of the Government, including the President, to resolve their issues, are yet to be implemented at the Ministerial level, which he said is expected to be implemented by any President that comes to power through the upcoming Presidential Election slated to be held on 21 September.

According to Chandralal, GN officers’ unions have already held talks with Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Opposition Leader and Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa and the National People’s Power, who have promised to resolve the said issues under a Government led by them.

During the past few months, GN officers have resorted to various forms of union actions demanding solutions for their salary and allowance-related issues. In addition, adding that the service constitution applicable for them has been drafted by the authorities in a manner that does not reflect their concerns, they demand that the said service constitution be withdrawn and redrafted to include their proposals.