Shimla, Aug 28,
Patients visiting Himachal Pradesh’s largest hospital, IGMC, are likely to face significant difficulties as the hospital’s RKS employees have announced strike from Tuesday until August 31, between 8 AM and 2 PM.
Health services at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMCH) Shimla are set to face significant disruption due to a planned four-hour strike by the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) workers’ union.
Union leader Varinder Pal informed that call was given by union to go on four days strike expected to temporarily cripple essential health services at one of the state’s premier medical institutions.
He disclosed that the RKS workers and union have decided to stage this protest against the hospital management’s failure to address their demands of increased pay band.
The workers, who number around 55 and are employed under RKS on a contractual basis, have not seen an increase in their pay band for several years, despite serving in critical roles such as ward boys and registration counter staff.
According to RKS Employees Union President, 36 IGMC employees were granted a regular pay scale in 2016, followed by one more in 2019, based on a government notification.
The planned strike is the first of several potential actions, with the union warning that if their demands are not met, they will continue these strikes until August 31. Furthermore, the union has threatened to escalate the situation with a regular strike starting on September 2 if the pay band issue remains unresolved.
Although RKS employees have met with Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who promised swift action on their demands, they remain dissatisfied with mere assurances. The employees insist on written confirmation regarding the fulfillment of their demands to call off the strike.
This strike poses a significant threat to the smooth operation of IGMCH, which plays a crucial role in providing healthcare services in the region.
The temporary cessation of work by these key staff members could derail the hospital’s ability to function efficiently, impacting patient care and access to essential services.
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