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| Monday, 2 February 2004 |
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Workers' conditions get worse by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The condition of three of the four hospitalised fasting health workers grew worse yesterday as the death fast launched by the Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) entered its eighth day today. However, colleagues started giving liquid foods to those engaged in the death fast yesterday afternoon as the Ministry had agreed to issue a circular containing their demands. By Saturday, four health workers on death fast were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital as their conditions grew worse after refusing to take even liquid foods. "The condition of three is very critical and others engaged in the protest had earlier refused to take liquid foods and be hospitalised," an alliance spokesman said. The HSTUA, Secretary Health Dr. Reggie Perera and the Prime Minister's advisor Dinesh Weerakkody have already signed an agreement on alliance demands. According to the agreement signed on Saturday, 60 per cent of the salary anomalies in the health sector will be resolved with the salary of January 2004 while another 15 per cent will be added from September 2004. The balance 25 per cent will be incorporated in January 2005. However, the alliance has now demanded a circular to be issued to this effect. "We want a circular assuring those demands to be issued by the Health Secretary and once such a circular is issued, we will be taking a decision on the death fast. We are now giving liquid foods to them," the spokesmen added. A senior Health Ministry spokesman said senior Ministry officials were busy yesterday preparing the circular. "Most probably this circular will be issued today", the official said. "However, at the moment those engaged in the death fast are not willing to give up their death fast until the Government takes steps to solve the issues through a proper notification," alliance spokesman Saman Rathnapriya told the Daily News. Ten members of the alliance commenced a death fast from Monday noon in front of the Health Ministry at Deans Road. The alliance which comprises mostly para medics and minor health staff started their protest fast amidst a prolonged stalemate in talks with the Health Ministry over salary anomalies. Earlier, the HSTUA was demanding the Government to remove the salary anomaly in one stroke, backdate the salary anomaly removing decision to take effect from January 1, 1997 and pay arrears from July 2003. However, a Cabinet decision three weeks ago seeks to increase health employees salaries in three stages in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Government Medical Officers' Association and the Public Service United Nurses' Union did not participate in the trade union action. |
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