Health sector TUs to resume strike

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Health workers, except doctors, in the North-Central province are scheduled to resume trade union action today (09), demanding that they also be given the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance, which only doctors are entitled to at present.

President of the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island that 72 health sector unions had launched trade union action four times, from January, since the government increased the DAT allowance only for doctors.

He said the government had agreed to increase their salaries a few months back and the Cabinet, too, had consented to do so on a staggered basis.

However, there are serious problems with the above Cabinet paper, Kumudesh said.

“The salary increase has not been approved for all categories of workers in the health sector.”

As the government had not carried out its pledge, the health sector trade unions were left with no alternative but to resume their trade union action, Kumudesh said.

“Instead of launching an all-island strike, we have decided to resort to trade union action on a staggered basis so that the government will have ample time to keep its promises.”

Kumudesh said if the government did not redress their grievances, health workers in the Central Province would go on strike. Health workers in Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, and South will join the strike on 14, 15, and 16 May respectively.

“Health workers in Uva will join the strike on 20 May.  On the 21st, health workers will launch a countrywide strike,” he said.