Thursday, September 09, 2004
ACHSU undertakes protest walk
Thursday, September 09, 2004
By Damitha Hemachandra
Members of the All Ceylon Health Services Union (ACHSU) marched in protest to the Health Ministry yesterday calling for a speedy solution to the salary anomalies of the minor health workers.
Spokesman for ACHSU, Samantha Koralearachchi said the union would resort to strong trade union action if the Health Ministry failed to grant a permanent solution to the present health crisis by next Wednesday.
Solving the question of the present off day and overtime payments of the health workers and making the alternative minor health workers permanent are also in the list of the demands of the union.
The Health Ministry by a recent circular limited the overtime payments of the health sector workers, affecting specially the technical workers including paramedics.
Meanwhile the troubles in the health sector are worsening again with the trade unions accusing the Health Ministry of ignoring patients' needs and workers' rights in a ploy to privatise the health sector.
Spokesman for Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) Ravi Kumudesh pointed out that the health sector was in confusion with the Ministry unable to address many critical trade union problems.
According to Mr. Kumudesh the health workers of the North and East are yet to receive the adjusted salaries despite repeated talks with the Governor.
The HSTUA had already threatened trade union action in the North-East from September 10, if the governor and the health authorities failed to grant them a satisfactory response.
The Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) launched a sick note campaign yesterday forcing the hospitals to seek private sector help for almost all the medical laboratory tests.
By Damitha Hemachandra
Members of the All Ceylon Health Services Union (ACHSU) marched in protest to the Health Ministry yesterday calling for a speedy solution to the salary anomalies of the minor health workers.
Spokesman for ACHSU, Samantha Koralearachchi said the union would resort to strong trade union action if the Health Ministry failed to grant a permanent solution to the present health crisis by next Wednesday.
Solving the question of the present off day and overtime payments of the health workers and making the alternative minor health workers permanent are also in the list of the demands of the union.
The Health Ministry by a recent circular limited the overtime payments of the health sector workers, affecting specially the technical workers including paramedics.
Meanwhile the troubles in the health sector are worsening again with the trade unions accusing the Health Ministry of ignoring patients' needs and workers' rights in a ploy to privatise the health sector.
Spokesman for Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) Ravi Kumudesh pointed out that the health sector was in confusion with the Ministry unable to address many critical trade union problems.
According to Mr. Kumudesh the health workers of the North and East are yet to receive the adjusted salaries despite repeated talks with the Governor.
The HSTUA had already threatened trade union action in the North-East from September 10, if the governor and the health authorities failed to grant them a satisfactory response.
The Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) launched a sick note campaign yesterday forcing the hospitals to seek private sector help for almost all the medical laboratory tests.
