Court halts picketing campaign at Seylan Bank

By S.S.Selvanayagam

The District Court of Colombo yesterday issued an interim injunction preventing any picketing campaign in front of the Seylan Bank or its branches.

Sequent to a plaint filed by Seylan Bank PLC, District Court Judge Ranjith N.Wathupola issued the interim injunction against the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union preventing them from inciting, encouraging or promoting any employee from engaging in any industrial or trade union action.

Romesh de Silva PC with Sugath Caldera and Manjula Fernandopulle instructed by D.L.& F. De Saram appeared for the plaintiff.  S. Amarajeewa appeared for the Defendant Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union.

The executive committee of the defendant trade union had decided to launch trade union action in protest against the purported failure of the plaintiff Bank to finalise the signing of the proposal for the Collective Agreement – 2011.

The plaintiff trade union had planned to stage picketing campaigns today in front of Seylan Bank branches island-wide, with the participation of members of other State and private sector banks.

It had also planned for a protest badge campaign during the working hours on 4 July until the matter is resolved.

All staff members of the said bank are to avail of their lunch interval simultaneously on 6 July and to withdraw from duties by 3.30 p.m on 13 July. These are some of the trade union actions planned to be staged by the defendant trade union.

The plaintiff  bank stated that there were two active trade unions with 900 members all employees of the plaintiff  bank and complained that grave damage would be caused to it if the proposed trade union action was taken in that there would be a drastic drop in public confidence in it resulting in a collapse.