Nurses to go on a token strike today; Rajitha insists demands have been resolved

Health Minister Rajtha Senaratne, in the backdrop of today's token strike by nurses, stressed that solutions were provided to several demands of nurses last week.

He told Times Online that these issues were discussed during two meetings which were held with the Public Service United Nurses’ Union and the Goverment Nursing Officers Association (GMNOA) over the last few days.

However, the Minister noted that certain demands such as salary increments could not be resolved through his intervention since matters pertaining to salaries are decided by the National Salaries Commission which is under the purview of the President.

The Public Service United Nurses’ Union (PSUNU) had decided to launch a two-day token strike at all national hospitals from 7 am onwards today (Mar 26). Accordingly, nurses at these hospitals will be using their sick leave allowance in order to refrain from reporting to work.

The decision to conduct this trade union action was made due to certain unresolved issues face by nurses’, PSUNU Chairman Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero said. However, nurses attached to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Castle Street Hospital, De Soysa Hospital, and the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama will not take part in the strike.

Further, the PSUNU said that nurses employed at the Emergency Unit and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of national hospitals will also refrain from engaging in the strike action.

Meanwhile, the All Island Nurses’ Union has said that it would not support today’s strike action. Instead, the Union’s Secretary said that a common trade union action will be organised in future with the support of all nurses’ unions seeking that their demands be fulfilled.

(Additional reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)