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Last night positive signs emerged in the context of estate crisis when the employee federation invited CWC to hold talks in the morning. The federation vehemently insisted after meeting with the management of 22 estate companies, that it could not meet the demand for an extra allowance of Rs. 400 a month. CWC sources verified that top representatives would attend the scheduled meeting. The CWC leader will not be attending the meeting, as he will be participating in the Satyagraha campaign in Hatton. Today’s meeting was convened after Prime minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake intervening and writing to both parties to begin negotiations and resolve the dispute amicable through collective bargaining and dialogue. The CWC is optimistic that they will reach a just solution at the today meeting. Drawing the attention of Prime Minister to the Gazette notification published by the government of July 31 last year, in respect of the salary increase of Rs 400 for the private sector employees, where it says; “Employees who have increased the wages of employees by Collective Agreement shall not be liable to pay the Rs 400 increase.” The Gazette also notifies, employees who have already paid a part of Rs 400 between the period of January 1 and August are also classified in the catagory. Therefore, the federation also urges the government to withdraw the Gazette notification and promptly grant relief to these employees who are suffering from devaluation of the rupee and sudden rise in the cost of living. Several Ministers and leaders joined hands with the Satyagraha campaign, in support of the demand for an extra monthly allowance for plantation workers. Minister Douglas Devananda, Deputy Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and socialist radical Vasudeva Nanayakkara was among them. The leader of Lanka plantation workers said a token strike would take place in support of the estate workers. Minister Devananda stressed that he will urge the President to give a just deal to the plantation workers.
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