108 EMRI workers call-off indefinite strike, give 2-month’s time to govt committee

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 22, 2019

SHILLONG: Workers of the GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI) have decided to call off their indefinite strike following the assurances from the state government to look into their 36 point charter of demands. 

The decision was taken after a tripartite meeting convened by the health minister AL Hek with the agitating workers and the management body of the GVK EMRI here on Monday. 

The emergency services were hit in the state after over 200 field staff of the GVK EMRI under the banner of the Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union (MEMRIWU) called for an indefinite strike since Friday last, as a mark of protest against the non-fulfillment of their demands.

It was also after the management body had also served show cause notices to as many as 12 field staff who refused to comply with the transferring order, which according to them was some kind of “punishment” and “tactic to terminate”. 

Apart from the main demand for the state government to consider taking over the emergency services, the agitating workers have also demand local to local transfer of field staff besides resolving the manpower shortage and increment of salary. 

As per notification issued on March 1, the state government has promulgated the Meghalaya Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1980 (No. 23 of 1980) read with the Meghalaya Essential Services Maintenance (Amendment) Act, 2003, prohibiting all strikes by field staff of GVK EMRI.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, health minister AL Hek said the management body has been asked to stop issuing of transfer and suspension order against the field staff. 

He said a committee to be headed by the Secretary of Health department Pravin Bakshi has been constituted to look into the 36-point charter of demands put forth by the workers. 

“The workers were requested to immediately call off their indefinite strike, which accordingly they agreed,” Hek said. 

Earlier, president of the MEMRIWU Roypar Kharraswai said that Union has unanimously decided to withdraw the indefinite strike following the assurances of the state government. 

“We however decided to give two months’ time to the committee constituted today to address all our grievances,” he said adding failing which, the union will take a decision on its future course of action. 

According to him, the strike was not only about issues related to the workers but it more towards safety of the public which they are serving. 

Asked, Kharraswai said that the demand that the state government should take over the emergency services still stand adding the question of outsourcing the same does not arise when it is fully funded by the state government.