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| Monday, 16 February 2004 |
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Health workers threaten islandwide strike tomorrow by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) has once again threatened an islandwide strike commencing tomorrow demanding a 100 per cent pay hike, effective January 2004. The Alliance reaction comes in the wake of a decision by the Health Ministry to grant a 75 per cent salary hike only to nurses and para-medics while the HSTUA were afforded only an initial 60 per cent increase. The Alliance claimed that the Ministry had taken this decision at the request of only one trade union."We cannot accept this position. This is a political decision taken by the Government to create a crisis in the health sector," Alliance spokesman Saman Rathnapriya told a media briefing yesterday. Two weeks ago, the Alliance ended a death fast campaign after the Health Ministry issued a circular agreeing to pay 60 per cent of the differences between the present and the proposed basic salary from January 2004. According to the circular, another 15 per cent was to be paid from September this year. The remainder will be paid in January 2005. Around 39 categories in the health sector will be entitled for a salary hike under this circular. "We agreed to end our trade union campaign for 60 per cent of the salary hike as the Government continuously stressed that there is a financial crisis in the country. "But now, the Finance Ministry had given a 75 per cent pay hike only to two sectors. This is highly unjustifiable and we want to lodge our protest against this decision," Rathnapriya added. He lamented the Government's attitude for adopting double standards in treating health sector employees. "It is not reasonable to give more benefits to one union to gain political advantage. We are totally against this," Rathnapriya said. The Alliance executive committee which met last morning has decided on a continuous strike while putting forward six demands. "We are demanding a 100 per cent pay hike along with several other demands." Alliance spokesman Ravi Kumudesh said the Health Ministry has to take a decision today.Meanwhile, a high level discussion chaired by Health Minister P. Dayaratne is scheduled for this evening to discuss matters concerning salary disputes in the health sector and reach a consensus. The discussion is expected to be attended by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Society of Registered and Assistant Medical Officers (SARMO) and the Alliance.SARMO launched a "work to salary" campaign urging Health authorities to resolve their salary anomaly. The GMOA also threatened to launch trade union action if the health authorities fail to amend the salary anomaly circular before February 24. |
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