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Health unions to decide on action tomorrow

20 Oct 2021

  • Demand reinstatement of Covid-19 relief allowance, and OT payments  
BY Dinitha Rathnayake Health unions, having given health officials a period of one week to decide on their demands, including the reinstatement of the Covid-19 relief allowance, and the making of overtime (OT) payments, will meet tomorrow to decide on further action. Speaking to The Morning, Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya said that this was decided after a special discussion held on 15 October to decide on upcoming union activities. Pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, and paramedics participated in this meeting, and added that the unions would meet again tomorrow (21) to decide on their union action. The main focus would be on upcoming union action where the unions demand the reinstatement of the Covid-19 allowance, and the making of overtime payments. Previously, the Health Service Trade Union Collective launched a five-hour strike action on 27 September at all government hospitals as the Government had failed to resolve their issues. Over 100,000 health employees such as nurses, paramedical services, professions supplementary to medicine, drivers, and junior staff joined the strike.  Rathnapriya said that the Covid-19 relief allowance of Rs. 7,500 was paid to them after the health trade unions compelled the Government to pay an allowance due to the difficulties faced by the health employees amidst the Covid-19 pandemic situation.  Rathnapriya added, however, that the Government had stopped the Covid-19 relief allowance from 30 August even though the risk of the pandemic was not diminished. 


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