SHILLONG, Jan 13: The Meghalaya EMRI Workers’ Union (MEMRIWU) called off its weeklong strike on Thursday.
MEMRIWU president Microlina Syiemlieh said the ambulances in Shillong, Tura and Phulbari are back on the roads while services in other places will be resumed soon.
She said the union decided to call off the strike after the government gave in writing that the workers will be
paid the minimum wage and that it was working for improving the emergency services.
She also said the union took the decision as the emergency service providers need to cooperate with the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service of the 108 ambulances in the state was severely hit after 250 employees of GVK EMRI went on a week’s strike demanding an increase in salary and the regularisation of their jobs. The agitating employees said they wanted the government to take over the service for their job security.
But Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the government would not be able to take over the service.
The average minimum monthly salary of an emergency medical technician in the group now is ₹11,150, and of a driver is ₹10,837. The pay would be revised after the government’s approval of a request from GVK EMRI for an additional 16% increase in operational cost.