SHILLONG: Irked at the non-response to their demands, workers of GVK EMRI in the state under the Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union (MEMRIWU) have resolved to give a notice to strike as mandated by the law.
In a statement issued here, the EMRI workers would be going on strike anytime beginning two weeks after the submission of the notice to strike. The union had submitted their demands on December 6 last year.
The union maintained that despite peaceful forms of agitations being carried out in order to make their voices heard, the management instead of calling for discussions resorted to threatening individuals and belittling their legitimate demands.
Black flag protests were carried out since December 12 to press for a discussion on the demands and a rally was also taken out on January 7.
“Yet the management remained adamant and made no attempts to understand the grievances and did not call the union for talks,” the union stated.
Some of the demands included upgrading of the ambulances, better working hours in order to ensure safety for patients and to provide quality services, better wages and improved staffing among others.
During the period of strike all the 108 ambulance/vehicles of the entire state will be handed over to the headquarters of GVK EMRI, Shillong.
The vehicles which are not in roadworthy condition or breakdown on the way to headquarters during this handing over would not be workers’ responsibility, the union stated.
