TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Continuing with their strike on day two, the emergency medical technician s (EMT) and pilots from the 108 emergency services staged a protest outside the Directorate of Health Services, at Campal, on Thursday. Employees wearing lab coats held up banners calling for a change in the management, salaries and their poor working conditions.
The government, which appointed GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute to tackle medical emergencies, brought them under The Essential Services Maintenance (Goa) Act on Wednesday by issuing a notice which read, “No person employed in GVK EMRI shall go or remain on strike.” It also warned that the employees would face disciplinary action including dismissal for striking or instigating others to join the strike.
Officials from GVK, the private service provider said due to non-compliance with this notice, six dismissal letters were already issued to those the company claimed were found instigating employees to join the strike.
“We have issued six dismissal letters to employees that were found to be instigating other employees to join the strike. Strict action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the notice,” said the official.
Hrudaynath Shirodkar, Goa in-charge of the all India Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) who are supporting the 108 staff said, “Today we staged a dharna outside the DHS in Campal. Tomorrow (Friday) we will be going to the Directorate of Transport to question how these ambulances are allowed to function without proper licences.”
