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Another health strike to inconvenience millions

1 April 2024 09:42 am - 5     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, April 01 (Daily Mirror) -The specter of a widespread health worker strike looms over Sri Lanka's medical landscape, as the Health Trade Union Alliance, representing 72 unions, has issued an ultimatum slated to commence on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30 a.m. 

 

 The year 2024 has thus far witnessed a series of health strike actions, with the latest marking the fourth occurrence in the past three months.  

 

Among the unresolved grievances plaguing the health workers, the main concern is the failure to provide an allowance akin to the DAT (Disturbance, Availability, and Transport) allowance extended to doctors. 

 

The government decided in February to exclusively raise the DAT allowance by Rs 35,000 for doctors. Subsequently, the health trade unions were agitated by the decision, prompting them to demand a similar allowance to the DAT.  

 

Nonetheless, health authorities have maintained their stance that the demand of the trade unions is not fair at this juncture. Despite previous negotiations with the Health Secretary on March 18, where a plea for a 10-day grace period to address the concern was submitted, the deadline elapsed on March 28 without tangible progress.  

 

As such, it seems that the authorities have turned a deaf ear to the grievance of the unions prompting them to resort to yet another strike action leaving people in dire straits. 

 

However, a glimmer of hope emerges as a crucial discussion is scheduled for today, April 1, involving officials from the Finance Ministry. The outcome of this pivotal meeting will sway the final decision regarding the impending strike. 

 

In a show of resolve, health trade unions have opted to withdraw services today at five key hospitals: Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, and Badulla. 

 

The withdrawal from services will be a prelude of a major strike which is pegged to cripple health services leaving lives of the innocent people at stake. 

 

As the nation braces for the looming strike, the spotlight remains fixed on the outcome of today's discussions, with the hopes of a resolution that averts the disruption of essential healthcare services hanging in the balance.


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  Comments - 5

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  • Gune Monday, 01 April 2024 10:08 AM

    Usual useless irresponsible trade unions in SL. Central Bank hasn't helped this either, by arbitraly giving them a huge salary increase. Trade unions will say, if they can do it, others can too. Everyone is asking for more money. This country will never prosper. Run by lunatics, worked in by lunatics and everything managed by lunatics and corrupt people. But it has a hilarious ambition of becoming a developed country by 2048. It will stay as a very distant dream indeed.

    Higher socio-economic classes shouldn't be the only ones to get the allowence Monday, 01 April 2024 07:36 PM

    A bit mad to suggest the working class should not gather as associations or unions to collectively fight for their rights. You seem to suggest the way of the the higher socioeconomic classes should be taken by all, without seeing the higher socioeconomic classes here are arrogantly trampling on the lower paid public's attempts to improve their life from near poverty.

    Doctors not important enough to be only ones to get the DAT allowence Monday, 01 April 2024 10:43 AM

    If all the minor staff leave, the army cannot replace them. Army and military is unskilled to do nurse work even. Doctors cannot be so special to only get DAT allowance. Health workers must not bow to rich elite and government who wish to pay them less, while wasting massive amounts on unnecessary military numbers.

    Tom Monday, 01 April 2024 11:25 AM

    Cut the water

    Ashley Tuesday, 02 April 2024 07:01 AM

    What is the use of director for trade unions if he cannot handle strikes in his own field


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