Contract health staff in Andhra Pradesh pause their strike after discussion with officials

The A.P. Medical and Health Contract Employees’ Joint Action Committee has decided to pause their ongoing strike following discussions with officials on Saturday, October 10.

The JAC had called for a boycott of duties from October 6 after their demands for regularisation of their services and payment of gross salary remained unmet despite several discussions with the government.

The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare had earlier conceded to grant a few non-financial requests put forth by the association, including payment of ex gratia to families of contract health staffers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the pandemic, grant of radiation leave for radiographers, among others.

However, since the government maintained that their chief demands of regularisation and payment of gross salaries could not be granted due to the financial situation of the State, the nurses and other contract staff went on a strike.

On Saturday, the JAC members were called for a discussion with the health officials, including Commissioner K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu. The JAC also demanded an incentive of 30%, based on the existing basic pay of contract employees. According to a release from the JAC, the officials had indicated that a special committee would examine this demand.

Considering the positive response, the JAC decided to call off their strike temporarily. The JAC said it did not withdraw its major demands, and that the decision only provided an opportunity to the government to resolve issues through discussions. All the contract staff in the department across the State would resume duties from October 11.