+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++* “This payment was due from January, but we decided not to carry out any our trade union action due to the war situation in the country. Now that the war is over, we cannot accept excuses any more,” a CPC trade union leader said.
* Fuel shortages arose due to a “go slow” campaign by a JVP-backed joint front of trade unions in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in support of a wage increase.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fuel crisis continues
2009-10-25 14:57:17 The Sunday Times LKThe fuel crisis continued for the third consecutive day today with many of the fuel station remaining close or curtailing their supplies.
A large number of motorist and private buses kept away from the roads as the supply of fuel was unlikely to return to normal on Monday though CPC workers were due to return to work as usual tomorrow.
"In one of the sheds in Wattala two groups were fighting each other over fuel supplies while in some other stations they were selling fuel at extra prices", Anil Kumara a Trishaw driver said.
He said that he remained in the queue for for two hours to obtain fuel.
"Due to the fuel shortage we were forced to cancel our plan to go for an entertainment show in Colombo, thogh we had brought the tickets for the show", Vijitha Perera, a businessman from Maharagama said
Crucial talks between CPC unions and President Mahinda Rajapaksa are scheduled for Monday, but unions say if their demand for the salary increase is not received they were planning for a bigger strike with other sectors.(DW/AD)
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