Large-scale trade union actions that have been going on for the last few weeks in Sri Lanka have disrupted citizens’ lives, trade, and day-to-day affairs of the State. For the average Sri Lankan who relies on public transport, public health services, and many other State-provided services, trade unionists have become akin to militants, and their actions which oppress the people are even called acts amounting to terrorism, by some.

One may feel that the general public’s reaction is excessive. But, when we look at the larger picture, their reaction is reasonable. We are not talking about people who have access to the best living and working conditions for years. A resounding majority of Sri Lankans were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, battled an ongoing economic crisis, faced political uncertainty, and even State-backed oppression within the last few years. Battered and bruised by the said crises, the people are today held hostage by trade union actions. Ordinary citizens are of the opinion that the difference between militants and disruptive trade unionists is fading.

What is questionable is trade unions’ excessive and disruptive actions, not their demands or their right to demand favourable working and living conditions. It is well accepted that there are long standing issues which continue to affect public sector employees and which have been ignored by the authorities on many occasions. At the same time, it is understandable that the country’s economic situation has exacerbated some of those issues. However, providing satisfactory solutions to those issues is a tricky matter. On the one hand, the country’s economic situation is such that spending more money on the public sector, which has already become a burden to taxpayers, is a massive challenge as it has a direct impact on inflation. On the other hand, as was seen during the past few months, the fulfilment of one segment of the public sector begets more protests by other related segments, which is difficult for the crisis-hit economy to handle.

A common phenomenon between militancy and this new wave of trade union actions is that they tend to victimise civilians rather than those who are actually in powerful places. All these trade unions affect ordinary citizens who are also carrying the burden of maintaining the public sector through various forms of taxes. Few or none of the rich and powerful, who ultimately make decisions, seem to get affected by these trade union actions. They have the ways and resources to seek private healthcare, private transportation and education, with ease. In this context, we have to ask, what is expected by oppressing the public who are already equally or more oppressed by the Government’s decisions? Why cannot Sri Lanka’s trade unions learn from other countries how to engage in trade union actions in a manner that sends a message to the authorities? Are the trade unions trying to push the poor populous to riot?

It is sad to see that, although trade unions claim to appear for the ‘podi miniha,’ it is the same ‘podi miniha’ that they are oppressing. This situation is more prominent when it comes to the health and transport sectors. Those who are actually making decisions do not seek health services from public hospitals or travel in public transport. Those who are inconvenienced by these actions are those contributing to the country’s economy without being compensated adequately. They – especially informal and private sector workers – are not entitled to half the perks public sector workers are already facilitated with. It is unfortunate that Sri Lanka does not have a patients’ rights movement to point out the health impacts caused by trade union actions. At the same time, there is no proper action to gauge the economic loss caused by trade union actions. Ultimately, these trade union actions, at this moment, do very little for the country’s common welfare. Private and informal sector workers are oppressed, health and education sectors are obstructed, and more importantly, true decision makers do not even feel directly affected by these protests.

While there is no argument that the Government should take the situation seriously and take steps to provide solutions to workers’ issues without delay, there is also a duty to protect taxpayers. We have to face the reality that these types of trade union actions disproportionately impact those below the poverty line. They are caught between trade unions that are determined to win their rights by hurting ordinary citizens and the authorities who keep underestimating and overlooking the gravity of the situation. That is cruel and inhumane.