Seven emergency servicemen arrested for vandalism. VISAKHAPATNAM: The ongoing tussle between the striking 108 emergency services employees and the GVK EMRI management took yet another twist with the police arresting seven members of the 108 Employees Association on charges of damaging public property late on Sunday night. While six persons were arrested by the Two Town Police, one was arrested by the Three Town Police, which is on the lookout for two other absconding persons. Police said that the accused, who were produced before the court, have been remanded in police custody. According to a GVK EMRI spokesperson, a complaint was filed against nine persons for damaging ambulances in the city limits and another complaint against 60 members in the rural areas had been submitted to the superintendent of police (rural). On July 19, the striking workers had allegedly removed the gear levers of eight ambulances in the city limits and flattened their tyres as well, hampering the emergency services. The spokesperson also said that the services of 30 employees had been terminated in Vizianagaram district, followed by 28 in East Godavari and 20 in Srikakulam districts. Speaking on the ambulance services, he said that except one in Ananthagiri, the remaining 37 ambulances were on the road in the district. He said that the ambulance undergoing repairs too would be on the road by evening. Sources said that while services of none of the employees of Vizag were terminated, a second list was being prepared in order to terminate some more of the striking employees, which may include some names from Vizag. However, members of the 108 Employees Association alleged that nine members of the employee body were arrested, including eight committee members and one driver. Refuting allegations that the striking employees had damaged the vehicles, a member of the employee association said, "We had handed over the keys of the vehicles to the management on July 19. The vehicles were damaged on the night of July 19 and we are not responsible for that. There is no proof that employees were involved in these incidents, still the police have arrested them." He alleged that the GVK EMRI management was trying to force the employees to call off the strike by threatening the employees with termination of service if they failed to rejoin work. He also said that a meeting had been called by the GVK EMRI management on July 25 to discuss the issues being raised by the striking employees. The main demands of the employees, who have been on a strike since July 19, are a minimum salary of 15,000 for drivers and technicians as against the existing salaries of Rs 8500 and a reduction in the number of working hours from 12 hours to eight.TOI
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:47:31 +0000
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