Employees of the ‘108’ ambulance service run by the GVK-Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) in public-private partnership with the State government called off their 11-day-old strike following talks with Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy here on Sunday.
The employees agreed to end their strike across the State after the Minister assured them that their salaries would be increased by Rs. 1,000 per month immediately and that he would convince the management to take back all the 70 sacked employees.
Dr. Laxma Reddy announced setting up of a six-member committee that would look into the other demands of employees, particularly running the agency by the government itself, since most of the funding was being done by it, by holding talks with the management and the employees. The Minister said the strike by the ‘108’ ambulance service employees had hit emergency health needs, particularly in rural areas.
“The committee will examine the possibilities of running the service by the government itself as being demanded by the employees and make a recommendation. Next action on the aspect will be taken based on the committee’s report,” the Minister said.
The employees of ‘108’ ambulance service under the aegis of Telangana ‘108’ Employees’ Welfare Association went on indefinite strike from the midnight of May 13 after their talks with the management failed. They kept a charter of 15 demands before the management before giving the strike notice.
Several political parties including the Congress, TDP, BJP and Left parties and the trade unions affiliated to them and Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) supported the strike, terming their demands “just”. The 11-day strike, however, has claimed several lives due to denial of the ambulance facility on time, though the GVK-EMRI tried to run some vehicles with temporary (hired) staff.
Calling off the strike after holding talks with the Minister, association president Mahender Reddy and executive president P. Ashok said the Minister had also assured them of wages for the strike period and also against victimisation by the management.
