March 18, Colombo (LNW): The Academy of Health Professionals has initiated a token strike today (March 18) in response to the government’s decision to reduce allowances for paramedical staff under its recently presented budget.
The strike, which began at 7:00 AM, is being observed across hospitals nationwide and has garnered the support of several trade unions.
Notably, seven unions from the Joint Federation of Paramedic Professionals and eleven unions from the Joint Front of Paramedic Services have thrown their weight behind the action.
Upul Rohana, Co-Convenor of the Academy of Health Professionals, explained that the strike was the result of failed discussions with Ministry of Finance officials on March 17.
Despite efforts to engage in dialogue, the government’s decision to slash allowances for paramedics has prompted widespread discontent within the sector, with many healthcare professionals feeling that their contributions are being undervalued.
However, not all within the paramedic community agree with the strike. Chalith Amaradiwakara, Co-Convenor of the Joint Federation of Paramedic Professionals, has expressed concerns about the action, labelling it unjustified.
This highlights a growing division within paramedic trade unions, with differing opinions on the effectiveness and necessity of the strike.
In a separate but related development, the ongoing postal workers’ strike, which began earlier this week, is set to continue today. The Joint Postal Trade Union Front has confirmed that negotiations with the government have yet to produce a resolution.
According to Chinthaka Bandara, Co-Convenor of the association, over one million pieces of mail and parcels are currently piling up in post offices across the island as a result of the industrial action.
Meanwhile, Jagath Mahinda, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Postal Services Association, has downplayed the impact of the strike, claiming that it has been largely ineffective and that services are still operating at a reduced capacity.
