Desist from TU action

Health Minister tells nurses:

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that his Ministry has taken initial steps towards amending the controversial Nursing Services minute relating to the nurses cadre attached to State hospitals and other institutions and requested all nurses to desist from supporting the sick note trade union campaign to be launched by a certain union today.

Minister Sirisena in a statement issued yesterday said that most of his time as Health Minister during the last six months was used to intervene to settle issues raised by all trade unions inclding nurses unions.

Already many of the problems have been solved through discussion while the basis had been laid for solving more complex problems.

He valued the support rendered by nurses unions in particular in resolving their problems and preparing the amended health services minute.

The Minister said he had already received Cabinet approval to promote nurses who completed 12 years service to the Grade One of the service.

Their service register is being prepared by the Ministry’s administrative division without submitting for Cabinet approval.

Referring to the proposed five-day week proposal the committee appointed to make recommendations in this regard had informed that the present cadre is insufficient to implement the five-day week scheme. This can be decided after the Ministry made fresh recruitment.

The Cabinet at its meeting today will make observations regarding the training period of nursing officers. The Cabinet Sub-Committee would take a final decision about the nurses’ minute within a month.

As regards the nursing degree representations have been made to the Higher Education Ministry for its specifications. Since the Ministry had taken systematic steps to resolve problems relating to the nursing service there was no need for nurses unions to resort to firm trade union action at present.

Sirisena said as a friend of the trade union sector he was always available to resolve problems and issues through discussion. Therefore, he would request trade unions to look at things humanely and join hands with him to resolve problems through discussion.

While appreciating the cause of action taken by the PSUNU to discuss and resolve outstanding issues he would expect the Government Nurses Union too to follow suit and resort to an enlightened policy.