Outsourcing staff in government hospitals boycott duties

Hyderabad: Outsourcing Fourth class employees working in 24 State hospitals and health centres in twin-cities boycotted their duties on Tuesday in protest against non-payment of salaries for last three months.

According to M Narsimha, president of TS Medical Contract Employees and Workers Union, nearly three thousand employees including sanitation staff, helpers, ward boys have been working without salary from May.

Striking staff belonged to hospitals and health centres falling under Directorate of Medical Education, Vaidya Vidhana Parishad and Directorate of Public Health.

He said that senior officials were aware of the plight of Fourth Class staff as three-day protests were held from July 8 to 10.

On July 10, officials called for a meeting and assured that salaries would be released shortly, but that did not happen, Narsimha lamented.

According to the union leaders, nearly Rs 10 crore amount has to be released by the government for payment of three months salaries to over three thousand workers employed in city hospitals and health centres.

Narsimha said that talks were held with the higher officials on Tuesday evening, following the day-long strike, and it was conveyed to them that government released the amount and accordingly cheques are being issued.

He said that they would take a further decision on continuation of strike seeing government response over the next 24 hours.