GNOA to go to international court against govt. suppression: Rathnapriya

• Already taking the necessary action to file a case in the international court
• The government had suppressed their right to resort to trade union action by declaring health service as an essential service

By Ajith Siriwardana

The Government Nursing Officers' Association (GNOA) said yesterday they would go to the International Court against the government for suppressing their right to strike. GNOA President Saman Rathnapriya said they were already taking the necessary action to file a case in the international court.

He said they had a right to strike in terms of the Trade Union Ordinance in Sri Lanka and international laws such as the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention No 98 and the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention No 87.

He said despite the right to strike, the government had suppressed their right to resort to trade union action by declaring health service as an essential service using powers vested on the President.

Rathnapriya said they were also planning to make submissions to the court on the credibility of their strike action.
He said the health authorities including Health Secretary had ignored their responsibility by not intervening to address their grievances despite repeated requests made for more than four months.

He said the Government Nursing Officers' Association withdrew from their strike action respecting the court order against the strike action.