Unequal concessions may force other professionals to take TU action

N. Gunawardane’s letter in the Sunday Times of August 5 blows the lid off the opinion citizen Perera has on the medical doctors as demi- gods.

Unfortunately, the large majority of our citizen Peraras are totally unaware that the medical doctors are only one link in the “chain” in the treatment process. It would be beneficial if the Sinhala / Tamil media carry similar articles. This should change the mindset that the medical doctors are demi-gods (or even gods ) and worshiped by most!

It is about time that technical professionals ( eg. Engineers) sound / warn the Government that any such concessions granted to medical doctors will force these professionals to take trade union action unless such concessions are also equally (or more) granted to them.

It need also be mentioned that during the 1940s and early 1955 era, the best brains went into the prestigious CCS (Ceylon Civil Service), and now the flow is towards all branches of Engineering and Medicine. The Government needs to be cautioned that any benefits (salary or any other) given to say the other services (like the off shoot of the CCS) should reflect on a higher scale to the Engineering and Medical services. Unfortunately we mostly work “back room” and do not rub shoulders with politicos and thereby the others score above us.

“Engineer” Via email