HYDERABAD: The employees of 108 emergency ambulance services in Telangana, who announced an indefinite strike from Thursday midnight demanding pay hike, have postponed it to Friday after receiving a call from the state labour commissioner for discussions with GVK.
The employees’ unions along with the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) leaders will meet at the labour commissionerate on Friday evening and hold discussion with the management of GVK emergency management research institute (EMRI) in the presence of labour commissioner.
Mahender Reddy, president, 108 Emergency Services Employees’ Welfare Association, said “we will take a final call on boycotting services after the discussion at labour commissionerate.” However, the strike will be continued as announced if the management fails to fulfill the demands, he said.
Meanwhile the Telangana department of health, medical and family welfare, which supervises operation of 108 services decided not to interfere in the issue. Stating that the 108 employees were not directly recruited by the government, the health department left it to the GVK to sort out the issue with its employees.
G Srinivas Rao, special officer for 108 services, Telangana, made it clear that it is the responsibility of GVK EMRI to make alternative arrangements if the employees go on strike. “The employees have to negotiate with the management and sort out the issue, government has nothing to do with their demands as they are not directly employed by the government,” he said.