Health TUs to launch strike from 7.00 am to 12.00 noon tomorrow

The Health Service Trade Union Collective said today they would launch a five-hour strike from 7.00 am to 12.00 noon tomorrow at all Government Hospitals in the country, since the Government had failed to resolve their issues.

Government Nursing Officers Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya said over 100,000 health employees such as nurses, Paramedical Services, Professions Supplementary to Medicine, drivers and junior staff will join the strike.

He said they would also stage protest campaigns in all hospitals after 12.00 noon today and added that they staged a protest on September 22 as well.

He said Covid relief allowance of Rs. 7,500 was paid to them after heath trade unions compelled the Government to pay due to the difficulties faced by the health employees amidst covid situation.

Rathnapriya said, however, the Government had stopped the Covid relief allowance from August 30 even though the risk of the pandemic was not diminished.

He said the Covid situation had not come down to a satisfactory level so far and added that 79 covid deaths and 1,200 cases have been reported even yesterday. A total number of 12 health employees have succumbed to the virus so far.(Ajith Siriwardana)