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HSTUA protest enters fourth day

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The protest fast by the Health Services Trade Union Alliance(HSTUA) enters its fourth day today with no agreement reached yet on a solution to health sector salary anomalies.

However, a high level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was held at the Parliamentary complex yesterday to discuss ways on redressing the salary anomalies.

The meeting was attended by several Ministers including Health Minister Dayaratne, Treasury officials and Ministry officials.

Sources said following the meeting, the Treasury officials were instructed to re-draft the proposals to remove salary anomalies to reach a maximum level to which the trade unions demands could be met.

However, there was no date fixed for a discussion with the trade unions and the Cabinet Sub Committee so far.

With this decision, a crucial discussion which was to be held Tuesday evening has now been postponed indefinitely.

The HSTUA which launched protest fast opposite the Health Ministry on Monday had earlier decided to stage a fast unto death until their demands are met. " However, our Executive Committee will be meeting today to decide on their future course of action," he added.

The HSTUA was poised to launch a continuous trade union action following the breakdown in negotiations last Wednesday. "We are not ready to waste any more time discussing issues. We need speedy action and decisions, "HSTUA spokesman Saman Rathnapriya said.

The Cabinet decision seeks to increase health employees salaries in three stages in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

The HSTUA staged a one day islandwide sick note campaign on Wednesday in protest against the Government's failure to redress health sector salary anomalies.

The Government Medical Officers' Association and Public Service United Nurses' Union did not participate in the trade union action.

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