Health services strike to continue in six more provinces

Several Health sector trade unions will stage strikes in six more provinces starting off from the Central Province tomorrow over the failure to receive assurances from the government to resolve the outstanding issues.

Accordingly the strike in the central province will be staged from 8.00 am to 12 noon in all hospitals and in the rest of the provinces too similar strikes will be launched in the days to follow, Convenor of the unions Chanaka Dharmawickrema said.

The rest of the dates for the strike have been scheduled as follows; on May 14 Sabaragamuwa Province, on May 15 North-Western Province, on May 16 the Southern Province, on May 20 Uva Province, and Western Province on May 21.

Similar strikes were held in other provinces earlier.

During the period of the strike, the workers will attended to emergency services.

President of Joint Council for Professions of Supplementary to Medicine’s Ravi Kumudesh claimed that the technical report for economic justice for the health staff was accepted in principle by the government, but the promised fulfillment of the agreement has not yet occurred.

According to the pertinent technical reports, a portion of the compensation will be increased in May, and an official announcement regarding the distribution of the remaining portion will be made within four weeks.

Furthermore, it is concerning that key health services were overlooked in the cabinet document that was sent to them on the May pay increase allowance. Concerning the allowances to be paid to non-uniformed workers, no action has been taken thus far in contrast to the uniform stipend, Kumudesh raised concerns.

In a fresh development they are also objecting regarding a circular which has been issued to remove 15 health staff members.