Enjoining orders against Free Trade Zones and General Service Employees Union

The Colombo District Court Judge Hon. Aruna Aluthge granted two enjoining orders against Free Trade Zones & General Service Employees Union recently. 

The orders were to restrain them from continuing the obstruction of roads and entrances to a reputed garment factory at Ekala, and harassing and intimidating the non-striking employees, and in breach of an agreement between the company and the Union.

Senior Counsel Manoj Bandara with Attorneys-at-Law Thidas Herath and Thamali Wijekoon, instructed by Sudath Perera Associates, appeared for the Plaintiff, supporting the Plaintiff’s case in open court. 

The Counsel pointed out that the Trade Union functioning at the said factory had organised an illegal strike action commencing on 14 December, in violation of conditions of an agreement  between the parties, causing to obstruct roads and entrances to the factory, causing physical harm, 

harassment and threats to the employees who are not involved in the strike, and further restricting the management and the other employees inside the factory during working hours. 

The Trade Union had organised the strike action demanding for two months bonus payment and a salary increment.

The enjoining orders were issued against 11 defendants, including the Free Trade Zones and General 

Service Employees Union, and several members of the Union, restraining them from continuing with any disruption of work at the Plaintiff’s Ekala Plant under the guise of purported trade union action, obstructing or blocking of gates and doors of the Plaintiff’s Ekala factory, and engaging in acts of intimidation, assault and/or abuse of the members of the Plaintiff’s Management and/or other employees of the Plaintiff.