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Health workers on strike today
By
Kushali Atukorale
Despite the government’s promise to increase
the salaries by Rs. 1,000, the All Ceylon Health Service Union
(ACHSU) has not changed its decision to take trade union action.
The ACHSU plans to launch a lunch-hour strike today, calling
on the Health Ministry to increase the salaries of health
workers by Rs. 5,000 along with several other demands.
ACHSU Chairman Gamini Kumarasinghe told The Bottom Line, the
union would be holding the strike in front of the Colombo
National Hospital, from 12 noon to 1 p.m., demanding a salary
hike. The reduction of bus and train fares is also among the
demands.“With the cost of living increasing almost daily,
the government should either increase the salaries of workers
or reduce bus and train fares since the people have reached
their patience limit. How are we going to live off the few
thousands we earn?” Kumarasinghe questioned.He pointed
out that the main reason for train fare hike was due to the
termination of railway subsidies. “Earlier the government
used to allocate Rs. 750 million as a subsidy for railways,
but due to various reasons it has stopped.
Therefore, the ticket fare has been increased fourfold,”
he stressed.“Our entire salaries will be spent just paying
train and bus fares, which have increased immensely. Anyone
would want to work hard to live a decent life and save a few
rupees but it has now become a dream for people like us. We
struggle every day to live and on top of that the government
is playing with us. What about our children’s wellbeing?”
Kumarasinghe queried.He further said that the union had decided
to hold several strikes until July 10, with the participation
of all health workers, including minor as well as junior staff.
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