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Health unions to decide on protests today

14 Oct 2021

By Dinitha Rathnayake Health unions are to conduct a special discussion today (15) to decide on upcoming trade union (TUs) activities, including demands for the reinstatement of the Covid-19-related allowance, and for the making of overtime (OT) payments. Speaking to The Morning, Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya said that the nursing service, pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, and paramedics would participate in this meeting. The main focus would be on upcoming trade union actions where the unions demand for the reinstatement of the Covid-19-related 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 claiming that the Government had failed to resolve their issues. Over 100,000 health employees such as nurses, paramedic 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 sector trade unions compelled the Government to pay an allowance due to the difficulties faced by the health employees amidst the pandemic situation. He added, however, that the Government had stopped the Covid-19 relief allowance from 30 August, even though the risk of the pandemic has not diminished.


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