BY Dinitha RathnayakeA total of 16 health sector trade unions are to launch a strike action today (9) in 152 hospitals islandwide, in connection with demands pertaining to eliminating the anomalies in promotions and the issuance of promotion-related circulars, and increasing the special allowances, among others. Speaking to The Morning, Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya said that 16 trade unions affiliated to the health sector including nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, public health inspectors (PHIs), and midwives will participate in this trade union action. The strike action which starts at 7 a.m. and ends tomorrow (10) at 8 a.m. will last for 25 hours in 49 central government hospitals, 103 local government hospitals, and 293 medical officer of health offices around the country. Around 55,000 health staff would participate in this strike action; however, emergency services and Covid-19-related services would continue as normal. A lunchtime protest was held on 22 September and a countrywide health workers’ strike on 27 September, mainly regarding the non-payment of the Covid-19 special allowance.

Source: The Nation November 09, 2021 00:01 UTC