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| Monday, 29 September 2003 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi As the stalemate in the health sector crisis dragged on into another week, the Health Ministry yesterday accused the striking unions of engaging in a "political game" while the Government had taken all measures to meet the Health Sector Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) demands. Thursday's discussion between the Cabinet Sub-Committee and the HSTUA has so far ended in deadlock with the alliance urging the Ministry to withdraw the circular effecting the sacking of temporary and casual employees who joined the strike. The Ministry reiterated that the workers have been misled to join the strike. "These workers will not be benefitted by the salary anomaly solutions as their salary is determined by the wages board. "These workers have no right to join trade union action but they have been misled," a senior Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday. Earlier, the Ministry decided to cancel leave of all Health Department staff with immediate effect and announced that substitutes, casual workers and temporary employees who do not report for work during the strike would be deemed as having vacated their posts. The Ministry spokesman said there is a political hand behind the strike. "Even though the Ministry has taken every possible measure to resolve the issue, they are not willing to compromise and give up the strike, apparently to bring disrepute to the Government," the spokesman added. However, the Ministry has taken the stand that those who lost their jobs could make an individual appeal to the Health Minister P. Dayaratne for his consideration. "They have to make an appeal to the Minister," the spokesman added. Referring to the HSTUA's claim to withdraw the particular circular, the Ministry spokesman said: "If the circular is withdrawn, it would set a bad example and would lead the health sector towards further crisis." Alliance spokesman Ravi Kumudesh said temporary and casual employees' rights should be guaranteed and urged the authorities to recruit all such employees whose services were terminated during the strike. The Health Ministry has already given appointments to 700 new people recruited replacing the casual and temporary employees who joined the strike. The HSTUA on Friday announced that they would continue the strike even after the Health Ministry provided them with a report of Thursday's discussion between the alliance and the Cabinet Sub- Committee. The discussion between the Cabinet Sub-Committee and the alliance lasted for nearly three hours on Thursday night focusing on a range of issues involved in the salary anomalies in the health sector. After extensive discussions, it was agreed to wait for six weeks until the Treasury Committee gives its recommendation by November 4, 2003 and to present the recommendations to the Cabinet within a week. The following day, the Health Ministry issued a detailed report on Thursday's discussion with the signature of Minister Dayaratne but the alliance claimed that they cannot accept the report. "We cannot accept the report as it does not contain several decisions taken at Thursday's discussion and we will continue the strike until the Health Ministry gives us a positive response," Kumudesh added. The HSTUA's strike reached the 12th day yesterday affecting routine services at Government Hospitals while authorities claimed that services at Government Hospitals are maintained at near normal levels with the Police and Armed Forces' assistance. ***** HSTUA protest The HSTUA will hold a protest opposite the Fort Railway Station today against the Health authorities failure to settle the strike. "The protest will be attended by 100 trade unions in and outside the health sector," said alliance spokesman Ravi Kumudesh adding that they will then march towards Lipton Circus where they will hold a rally. |
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