Strike ends: Paramedics, admin meet midway

The workers had boycotted their duties in the OPD for the past 10 days.

SUKKUR:

All services at Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana resumed on Monday as the paramedics and the medical superintendent resolved their differences.

The hospital’s paramedic staff went on strike around 11 days ago to protest the attitude of the medical superintendent, Zulfiqar Siyal, who they claimed behaved like a “medieval Mughal king”. For his part, Siyal claimed that the workers were making unjust demands.

On Sunday night, Larkana DCO Abdul Haleem Lashari, DPO Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh, Pakistan Paramedical Staff Union, Sindh, president Niaz Hussain Bhutto, chairman Aijaz Kakepoto, general secretary Sharif Palari and others held a meeting to put an end to the strike.

Talking to The Express Tribune later, the paramedic union president for Chandka Medical College, Shahi Khan Jagirani, said that the meeting was held in a very friendly atmosphere. The administration accepted 27 of their demands that include reinstating eight sacked employees, withdrawing FIRs against union office bearers, withdrawing show-cause notices and releasing salaries of the suspended officials.

For his part, Dr Siyal said that they accepted the just demands of the union and the dispute is over now. He confirmed that the paramedics are back on duty. Earlier, Jagirani had accused the superintendent of having a negative attitude towards them while Dr Siyal had claimed that Jagirani was facing an inquiry for mistreating a female doctor.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2011.