FAISALABAD:
The paramedical staff of government hospitals in the city observed a strike on Wednesday and staged a demonstration demanding an increase in their wages and fringe benefits and a new service structure. The protesters also demanded health allowance and pay protection allowance.
Paramedical staff of the Allied Hospital, the district headquarters hospital, the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology and General Hospital boycotted work in the out-patients departments.
They gathered in front of their hospitals and rallied to Ghulam Muhammadabad blocking the road for several hours.
The protesters chanted slogans against the government and accused the chief minister of “depriving them of their legitimate rights”.
They said that in May 2011, the chief minister had promised to meet their demands and had assured them that he would resolve their problems.
However, they said, he had backed out of his commitment.
Muhammad Asghar, the Allied Hospital Paramedics Association spokesman, said that they would continue to protest if their demands were not met.
He said that all contractual employees should be regularised. He said if their demands were not met, they would protest in front of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Lahore on December 7.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2012.
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