Health Service TU action successful: Rathnapriya

The strike launched by the Health Service Trade Union Collective was successfully carried out in about 1,000 Government Hospitals from 7.00 am this morning, Government Nursing Officers Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya said.

He said the trade union action was not carried out in the hospital where the COVID patients are being treated. Also the TU action was exempted at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Castle Street Maternity Hospital and Cancer Hospital in Maharagama.

He said they launched the strike to urge the Government to resolve their issues such as the Rs. 7,500 Covid relief allowance which was annulled from August 30.

“Health employees have to spend about Rs. 15,000 to 20,00 per month additionally for transportation, facemasks and other expenses due to this Covid pandemic,” he said.

Rathnapriya said they would resort to even more serious trade union action, if the Government fail to resolve their issues continually. (Ajith Siriwardana)