GMOA warns of trade union action from Wednesday

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has warned of trade union action from Wednesday if salary issues are not resolved immediately.

Issuing a statement, the GMOA said that they would begin the trade union action if the newly-appointed cabinet sub-committee on salary anomalies does not provide a feasible solution to the issue.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Vajira Abeywardena, Rajitha Senaratne and State Minister Asoka Abeysinghe are among those in the sub-committee appointed last week.

The union claimed that salary issues have gone unresolved for two years since the cabinet had approved salary schemes in violation of the National Salary Structure.

They alleged that the government's recent decision to implement the recommendations of the Salary Review Commission by increasing basic salaries is an attempt to drag the issue even further.

The GMOA said that what also needs to be done is to provide an interim allowance in fairness to all sectors.

Further, the medical officers' union said they did not engage in a strike very recently by considering the health of patients and those affected by the inclement weather.