Power sector unions are giving the state till Friday to decide on controversial reform plans for the loss making Ceylon Electricity Board, ahead of a key union meeting.
Unions are opposing plans to dismantle the state utility into independent units of generation transmission, and distribution, threatening an all out supply disruption if it goes ahead.
Just last week, most of the CEB’s 52 unions took to the streets in protest, resulting in the Cabinet meeting to okay the reforms, being shelved for about two weeks.
On Thursday, the unions will meet with Treasury officials to thrash out remaining concerns over reform plans for the state utilities, including the Petroleum Corporation.
“We will decide what the union position is on Friday and if there is any action to be taken,” Chief of the small, but influential CEB Engineers Union, Ananda Piyathilake said on Wednesday.
“If we are pushed to trade union action by the government it may lead to blackouts. If that situation has to happ