GUWAHATI, Sept 19 - Despite its employees suspending their ongoing strike, GVK EMRI could not resume the emergency response service today, citing that the ambulances were in custody of the district administrations and an audit of the vehicles was needed before pressing them into service again.
A leader of the agitating employees union said the company�s management kept the shutters of the emergency response offices closed and the staff could not resume work despite suspending the strike till September 21.
�The call centres are still not working. Initially, the management insisted that we will not be allowed to work if we do not report the cases. We agreed to that and gave an assurance in writing. Then they insisted that we withdraw the agitation permanently. But we did not agree to that. Later, they told us that they need to inspect the vehicles before they resume the service,� the union leader said.
A statement from the company said it had received an official letter from the employees union yesterday at 5:30 pm that they are calling off the strike conditionally and partially from 8 am today, but will abstain from giving case closure, fuel closure reports, PCR submission, daily attendance which are essential for medicolegal procedure. �These medicolegal procedures are a must, and without these it is as good as not operating the ambulances and amounts to continuation of the strike,� the statement said.
GVK EMRI said it has its own laid down system and procedures which allow its employees to be back on their duties after such a strike. All the employees taking part in the strike have to complete such formalities before resuming the duty, it said.
�Further, as per written instruction from NHM Assam, GVK EMRI had handed over all the ambulances and its assets to the respective district administrations in physical and in writing to safeguard them during the strike. To restore the operation and emergency services GVK EMRI has to request NHM and the respective district administrations to hand over the ambulances back to us as per their system and procedure.
�Since the ambulance keys are with the agitating employees, GVK EMRI needs to conduct a thorough audit of the vehicle and its assets for discrepancies and missing items. On completion of these activities, GVK EMRI will announce the date and time for start of services across all districts of Assam,� the statement said.
GUWAHATI, Sept 19 - Despite its employees suspending their ongoing strike, GVK EMRI could not resume the emergency response service today, citing that the ambulances were in custody of the district administrations and an audit of the vehicles was needed before pressing them into service again.
A leader of the agitating employees union said the company�s management kept the shutters of the emergency response offices closed and the staff could not resume work despite suspending the strike till September 21.
�The call centres are still not working. Initially, the management insisted that we will not be allowed to work if we do not report the cases. We agreed to that and gave an assurance in writing. Then they insisted that we withdraw the agitation permanently. But we did not agree to that. Later, they told us that they need to inspect the vehicles before they resume the service,� the union leader said.
A statement from the company said it had received an official letter from the employees union yesterday at 5:30 pm that they are calling off the strike conditionally and partially from 8 am today, but will abstain from giving case closure, fuel closure reports, PCR submission, daily attendance which are essential for medicolegal procedure. �These medicolegal procedures are a must, and without these it is as good as not operating the ambulances and amounts to continuation of the strike,� the statement said.
GVK EMRI said it has its own laid down system and procedures which allow its employees to be back on their duties after such a strike. All the employees taking part in the strike have to complete such formalities before resuming the duty, it said.
�Further, as per written instruction from NHM Assam, GVK EMRI had handed over all the ambulances and its assets to the respective district administrations in physical and in writing to safeguard them during the strike. To restore the operation and emergency services GVK EMRI has to request NHM and the respective district administrations to hand over the ambulances back to us as per their system and procedure.
�Since the ambulance keys are with the agitating employees, GVK EMRI needs to conduct a thorough audit of the vehicle and its assets for discrepancies and missing items. On completion of these activities, GVK EMRI will announce the date and time for start of services across all districts of Assam,� the statement said.
