Ambulance workers’ stir hits health services

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 11

The 108 Ambulance services across the state remain disrupted on Wednesday as 108 drivers observed a statewide strike, suspending services for 12 hours.

After the termination of as many as 30 employees, members of the 108 Ambulance Driver Employees Association have decided to extend their strike for an indefinite period.

While the state committee of the 108 ambulance drivers had decided that the ambulance service would remain suspended in the state on July 11, after the termination of the staff on Wednesday, they decided to extend their strike. The service remained suspended from 8 am to 8 pm.

While members of the association will also be meeting, Varun Roojam, MD of Healthcare Private Limited (the company that runs the ambulance service in the state) on Thursday afternoon, they said until the employees terminated on Wednesday and earlier in 2014, are reinstated, the strike will be continued.

District president Amandeep Singh said: “Over 70 employees were terminated in 2014. An additional 30 have been terminated on Wednesday as per initial reports trickling in. We are receiving reports that new employees are being sent to join the services who don’t even have training for the job. Our strike has been extended to an indefinite period until our demands are met.”

A release issued by 108 ambulance drivers also stated a declaration to this effect had been made by the administrative director of the PHSC in Mohali on June 26.

The primary demands of the association include their duty hours be reduced from 12 hours to eight hours, pending increments and interest for the past four years be released and implemented, equal work equal pay provision be implemented, EMTs should be re-designated as EMTs rather than ambulance managers, the post on which they are currently deputed.

Other demands included payment of salaries to be made from 1 to 7 every month, recent transfers and terminations be withdrawn, 36 employees dismissed in 2014 be immediately reinstated.

What they demand

The primary demands of the association include their duty hours be reduced from 12 hours to eight hours, pending increments and interest for the past four years be released and implemented, equal work equal pay provision be implemented, EMTs should be re-designated as EMTs rather than ambulance managers, the post on which they are currently deputed.