Railway workers struck work from midnight on Sunday bringing operations to a near standstill as 360 runs had to be cancelled.

In an attempt to bring about a settlement the Transport Ministry arranged for talks involving the Railway Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTA), the Salaries and Cadre Commission and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge. But the discussions, scheduled for 2.30 pm were cancelled as only the Railway Engine Drivers’ Union representatives were present. Others had decided to continue with their trade union action.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told The Island that no meetings to discuss the demands of the Railway Trade Union Alliance would be held until the strike was called off.

The JTUA has requested the withdrawal of the 2006/6 Circular, but the Salaries and Cadre Commission has turned it down.

Minister Welgama said: "My Secretary and I personally spoke to the Joint Trade Union Alliance on July 6 at 10.30 p.m. and informed them that a meeting, to discuss the issue, would be held at the Presidential Secretariat with the officials of the Salaries and Cadre Commission and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga. I asked them to call off the proposed strike and come for the meeting. But they did not care. The government has decided not to hold any meeting with the union while the strike is on."

A Transport Ministry spokesman said that engine drivers, guards, station masters and signal technicians, who were members of the Railway Joint Trade Union Alliance had not reported for work at midnight on July 7.

Their main demand was for the anomalies in the circular, issued on 2006/6, to be rectified, but the Salaries and Cadre Commission refused to meet the demand on the grounds that if it was granted the paramedics in the health Ministry would follow suit.

Railway Engine Drivers’ Union President I. L. K Dissanayaka, when contacted, said that Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Ministry Secretary Dhammika Perera had spoken to the union officials over the phone at 10.30 p.m. on July 6 and requested them not to launch the strike as the matter could be settled at the meeting with President’s Secretary and Salaries and Cadre Commission officials scheduled to be held on July 8 at 2.30 p.m. But the majority of members had rejected the request and launched the strike.