Barnala: The staff associated with the 108 ambulances in Barnala has decided to go on strike, creating potential distress for the public. Under the aegis of the Ambulance Employees Association Punjab, led by Amandeep Singh from Bathinda, the decision to strike has been taken due to the staff of the 108 ambulances, operated under contract by the government, not receiving their full salary and allowances. This statewide strike in Punjab is causing concern as people may face difficulties in availing ambulance services.
Baldeep Barnala, the district president of the 108 ambulance staff, and General Secretary Jashandeep Ghurakot informed that despite providing ambulance services, they have not received any salary increment for a long time due to the government’s failure to fulfil promises made in meetings held under the leadership of the company government.
They have demanded that the state government take control of the 108 ambulances and provide them a monthly salary of ₹35,000 to ₹40,000, similar to the model in Haryana. They emphasized that despite having qualifications in pharmacy/nursing, the company is only paying them a monthly salary of ₹9,500, significantly less than what the government is paying the company.
The union is advocating for a ₹50 lakh insurance cover for all employees and a reduction in duty hours from 12 to 8 hours. The employees express dissatisfaction with the current scenario where the company is receiving more funds from the government compared to what is being allocated to the employees.
The strike, initiated by the staff associated with the 108 ambulances, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by essential service workers and their demands for fair compensation and better working conditions. This situation raises concerns about the impact on public health services in the region.
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