The Port Trade Unions Joint Alliance (PJTUA) says that information has been revealed that the government is preparing to privatize the Port Eastern Terminal (ECT).
It is uniting all forces and taking strong trade union action against that attempt.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Ports Authority, the alliance says that all trade unions at the port are working together to thwart the government’s attempt. They recall that the Secretary to the President has instructed the relevant authorities to prepare the necessary arrangements for the privatization of the Eastern Terminal and that the current government promised not to privatize the terminal before coming to power.
The trade union alliance also states that the data presented by the Managing Director of the Ports Authority at a workshop held at the Mahapola Ports and Maritime Institute on April 29th has explained how detrimental the privatization of the terminal is to the country.
The total revenue received by the government from the terminal, which has been operated by the private sector (SAGT) for 27 years, is less than $250 million, and if the Eastern Terminal is operated under the Ports Authority, it can generate about $360 million per year from its first 10 lanes alone. The alliance further states that it is estimated that the terminal will generate annual revenue of over $700 million once it is fully operational.
The letter sent by the employees is below
