Trouble is looming ahead for the 108 ambulance service in Hyderabad and the districts in Telangana State with its employees deciding to boycott all their duties from the midnight of Thursday, May 7.
On Monday, the members of the 108 Employees Union held a dharna and demanded that the State Government immediately take over the administration of the medical emergency services.
The union members pointed out that the emergency services were fully funded by the TS Government and it was time it took over and manage the services independently. “We have been raising issues such as better salaries for employees and implementation of labour laws for a long time. The employees are not getting their salaries regularly despite the Government releasing funds regularly,” union president, Mahender Reddy said.
The employees claimed that all the 316 employees of 108 services from the Telangana districts have participated in the dharna on Monday and they would boycott their duties from Thursday midnight.
“We have given ample time to our management to act on our demands. The Government is spending close to Rs. 1.25 lakh on a single 108 ambulance. However, the employees, consisting of the pilot and support staff, are being paid anywhere between Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 9,000 every month. There is an urgent need for hike in our salaries,” the agitating employees demanded.
They have also demanded that 60 employees, who were suspended from their duties since 2013, be reinstated. “They were suspended without any valid reasons and they have to be recalled,” 108 employee union members said. The employees said that they were hoping top health authorities in the Government take the initiative and settle their demands.
