GVK EMRI workers call for an indefinite strike

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 18, 2019

SHILLONG: Emergency services in the state is likely to be disrupted with the decision of the workers of the GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI) to call for an indefinite strike as a mark of protest against the management body’s adamant attitude in fulfilling their charter of demands. 

The decision was taken at executive committee meeting of the Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union (MEWU) held after holding a day long sit-in-demonstration in the city here on Thursday. 

On receiving the strike notice issued by the Union, the management body of the GVK EMRI while appealing to all its employees to revoke the strike and to return to work, has sought for time to resolve the pending issues with the state government. 

Publicity secretary of the union Joseph H Pyngrope said, “We have decided to call for an indefinite strike with immediate effect. The field staffs have been asked to hand over the ambulance keys to the respective deputy commissioners of the eleven districts by tomorrow.”

Earlier while speaking at the sidelines of the sit-in-protest held at the parking lot near the Additional Secretariat, President of the Union Roypar Kharraswai told reporters that despite seeking the intervention of the state government on several occasions, yet the issues of the field staff are not addressed till date. 

“We had met the chief minister twice besides health minister and government officials but we did not get any help. This has compelled us to come out to the streets to demand for our rights,” he said. 

Asked, Kharraswai said that the Union also strongly opposed against the alleged move of the management body to terminate the services of as many as 12 field staffs, who refused to comply with the transfer orders. 

“If the management body does not stop this illogical transferring of field staff, we would have no other option but to halt our services,” he said adding “We strongly demand the state government to remove the present management body and instead take over the emergency services.” 

Pyngrope on the other hand said that the demands of the Union include 20 percent increment of the salary, sanctioning of manpower and local to local transfer of staffs. 

“It is important to note that if a Khasi field staff is being transferred to Garo Hills, problem of communication will arise which will affect and put the patient lives at risk. Therefore, we are demanding that transfer should be based taking these things into consideration,” he said. 

The publicity secretary further informed that the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong had earlier in a recent meeting asked the Union to go back and resolve the matter with the management body. 

“However, the management body when approached instead of resolving the pending issues was talking about service rules and this had led us nowhere,” he said. 

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the management body of the GVK EMRI informed that a meeting chaired by the Deputy CM was held between the management and field staff on July 11, followed by a meeting between the management and two factions of the field staff on July 12, at GVK EMRI conference room. 

The meeting was able to clarify and close most of the Charter of Demands barring the ones where Government of Meghalaya intervention is required and one where transfer of few individuals were concern over which an agreement could not be reached with one faction of the field staffs. Following which some of the employees have called for a strike, it said.

Appealing to the employees on strike to come back to the main fold and serve the citizens of the state as has been for the last 10 years, the management body has also requested for a reasonable time to resolve the pending issues with the Government at the earliest. 

At the same time, the management body has also reminded that Meghalaya Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1980 (No. 23 of 1980) read with the Meghalaya Essential Services Maintenance (Amendment) Act, 2003, has been promulgated within the state of Meghalaya as per notification No. POL.354/86/Pt/239 dated 1st March 2019, and as such all strikes by field staff of GVK EMRI is prohibited.