Health Workers Give 72hrs Ultimatum

 

 Several health services sector trade unions launched a token strike yesterday morning crippling the services at several hospitals countrywide. Due to the token strike, scores of patients who had gone to hospitals for treatment and admissions were greatly inconvenienced. Sources said some patients had also suffered for want of transport facilities. 

Patients charged that at a time when the country is facing the scourge of COVID-19, trade unions were attempting to win their demands using patients as guinea pigs. The Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) said the strike, which commenced at 7:00 a.m. yesterday, had continued for five hours until 12 noon. 

President of the Association Saman Ratnapriya stated that 44 unions had participated in this trade union action, which was staged over several issues faced by healthcare workers. The GNOA has warned that if the Government fails to respond positively to the demands put forward by them within the next 72-hours, they will resort to harsher trade union action. 

Issuing a communiqué they charged that thus far neither the Government nor the Ministry of Health has made any effort to sort out the demands submitted by them. 

Hence, they warned that they will be giving a three-day period for the Government to respond positively to the demands put forward by them and stressed failing to do so will prompt them to initiate stern trade union action.

Source ceylontoday