Govt. docs call off token strike

Government doctors on Saturday decided to call off their token strike scheduled for Monday.

“We decided to call off the strike as both the Prime Minister and the Health Minister assured us that the salary and wages policy will not be violated as it would create a wave of strikes in the government sector,” said Government Medical Officers Association ( GMOA) assistant secretary, Dr. Naveen de Soyza.

GMOA assistant secretary, Dr. Naveen de Soyza earlier told the Sunday Times that if the government failed to assure in writing that the national salaries and wages policy would not be violated and ensured adherence to recommendations made by the Salaries and Cadre Commission, doctors would go ahead with Monday's token strike.

"GMOA members met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Friday and highlighted the concern that trying to solve salary anomalies by appointing Cabinet sub- committees or by adhering to demands of unions would have a long- term effect to the state sector. There would be more strikes in the future, and not only in the health sector," he warned.