‘108' ambulance drivers condemn reduction in salary; announce State-wide strike

The Hindu

2 days ago

Members of '108' Ambulance Workers Union affiliated to COITU have decided to go on a State-wide strike in the month of October to condemn the unannounced reduction of salary payment for the year 2025-26.
During a meeting here, the union condemned the State government and EMRI-GHS administration for reducing the salary of the workers abruptly without any discussion or announcements.
T. Sivakumar, State president, said, as per their salary structure, their yearly increment was not be based on the Dearness Allowance system. Due to that, they had a mandate that every year there should be a 16% increase in the salary of the workers, he added. But, this year, their increment was just 10%. At a time when workers were demanding for 30% salary hike, the increment cut was unacceptable and unjust, he stated.
Criticising the administration for cutting down the '108' ambulance service at night, he said that the need of ambulance service had increased at night due to the increasing referrals to Government Hospitals from rural hospitals.
'Due to the poor health structure in rural areas, the referrals to GHs have become indispensable. But, stopping ambulance services would only lead to disruption in emergency services and intrusion of private ambulance services,' he stated.
Mr. Sivakumar noted that as their union questioned the stoppage of night services, the administration was acting against the union members by suspending and punishing them.
'If the ambulance workers are not called for a meeting to solve the salary issue and reduction of ambulance services, they would go on strike as announced in the month of October,' he said.