Health workers’ TU alliance too demands Rs 35,000 allowance within seven days

By Sujeewa Thathsara

The Health Workers Union Alliance, comprising 72 trade unions, have given the government seven days, starting from today (05) to grant its members Rs. 35,000 as DAT (Disturbance, Attendance and Transport) allowance.”Leaders of the alliance have decided that if the Ministry doesn’t comply with our demand, we will resort to a continuous strike action. The authorities, including the government, Health Minister and Ministry officials, must take the responsibility for  inconvenience faced by the patients,”

Health Trade Union Alliance’s convenor Ravi Kumudesh said.

The trade unions, representing a wide range of health sector professionals – including radiology and laboratory technologists, pharmacists and drug compounders, midwives, dental surgeons, public health inspectors, and entomology officers have engaged in strikes time and time again, over the past few months, urging the government to grant the DAT allowance, which only doctors are entitled to at present.