• “Cabinet Papers pertaining to promotions and five-day work-week have  already been signed. They can be submitted to the Cabinet next week”

By Ajith Siriwardana   

While claiming that there was no positive response to their demands, the Nurses’ Trade Unions yesterday vowed to resort to an islandwide trade union action if the authorities failed to resolve their issues by next Monday.  

Government Nursing Officers’ Association Chairman Saman Rathnapriya said they would decide on further action at the executive meeting of their Trade Union today.   He said they had not received any positive response from the health authorities for their demands until last evening.  He said if the Government failed to submit the Cabinet Paper with regard to the promotions of the nurses and five-day work-week by next Monday, they would resort to island-wide trade union action.  

“Cabinet Papers pertaining to promotions and five-day work-week have already been signed,” he said.  Ratnapriya said there were several demands that can be resolved soon.  

“Our demand for KN95 masks for nurses can be easily granted.  More than 500 nurses have been infected with Covid-19 by now. The two Cabinet Papers on promotions and five-day work-week can be submitted for approval next Monday,” he said.  The three main Trade Unions resorted to a sick leave campaign from Thursday morning over several demands.