Docs threaten token strike over DAT allowance

April 17, 2012, 10:08 pm , the island,

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

Government Medical Officers’ Association President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya yesterday warned Health Authorities that his association would be compelled to take tough trade union action in protest against non-payment of the revised Disturbance, Availability and Transport Allowance and the non-implementation of salary revision.

The final decision to launch a country-wide token strike would be taken by the GMOA General Committee on April 29.

In terms of allowances the doctors had only been getting the DAT Allowance whereas other high officials of the public service were enjoying all the privileges, he told a Media Conference at the GMOA head office.

Dr. Padeniya said that though President Mahinda Rajapaksa had agreed to grant Rs. 29,000 as DAT Allowance in 2008, due to enormous expenditure on the war, the implementation of the increase of the DAT was postponed. Even at the meeting GMOA had last month with Salary and Cadre Commission officials and the Finance Ministry it was agreed by the both parties to implement it.

He pointed out that though the relevant authorities agreed to implement it, no action had been taken so far. "We are not asking the government for new allowances. We have clearly explained to the authorities the necessity for DAT increase because we are unable to make both ends meet," Dr. Padeniya stressed.

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Navin de Soysa said that the government had introduced a National Wage Policy in accordance with the Occupational Classification, but ever since the government had been unable to implement it, because of which most professional were affected.

He added that the GMOA had no alternative but to resort to stronger trade union action to protest against the government’s reluctance to implement a National Wage Policy and the constant delay in paying the enhanced DAT Allowance.