Kosovo healthcare workers on strike

As of today, all healthcare institutions in Kosovo are on a general strike until their demands are fulfilled. Their most important demand is for a EUR 44 increase in salary. Kosovo healthcare workers on strike The strike of about 13,000 healthcare workers was not delayed following yesterday’s meeting between Health Minister Alush Gashi and the health union, according to Pristina newspapers. Gashi proposed that the union delay its strike and promised the formation of a commission in the next few days to realize their demands. “We did not accept that since those are simply promises and carry no guarantee of quick realization,” said the health union's president, Aslan Bajrami. According to him, the government did not take one specific step toward fulfilling their demands. He added that the decision to go on strike was made two weeks ago. “During that time the government has made no attempt to fulfill our legitimate demands,” said Bajrami, adding that he was convinced that this time the strike would not end until the Oct. 14, 2008 agreement was completely fulfilled. Government spokesman Memli Krasniqi said that “the health strike will be over by tomorrow, and will not have even gotten off the ground, since the government has found a way to pay the EUR 44.” Bajrami said that over 13,000 healthcare workers would be on strike in all healthcare institutions, as was foreseen in their Feb. 9 decisions. He added that healthcare workers will organize an international convention and during the strike only emergencies would be handled in all sectors.

Kosovo healthcare workers on strike

The strike of about 13,000 healthcare workers was not delayed following yesterday’s meeting between Health Minister Alush Gashi and the health union, according to Priština newspapers.

Gashi proposed that the union delay its strike and promised the formation of a commission in the next few days to realize their demands.

“We did not accept that since those are simply promises and carry no guarantee of quick realization,” said the health union's president, Aslan Bajrami.

According to him, the government did not take one specific step toward fulfilling their demands. He added that the decision to go on strike was made two weeks ago.

“During that time the government has made no attempt to fulfill our legitimate demands,” said Bajrami, adding that he was convinced that this time the strike would not end until the Oct. 14, 2008 agreement was completely fulfilled.

Government spokesman Memli Krasniqi said that “the health strike will be over by tomorrow, and will not have even gotten off the ground, since the government has found a way to pay the EUR 44.”

Bajrami said that over 13,000 healthcare workers would be on strike in all healthcare institutions, as was foreseen in their Feb. 9 decisions.

He added that healthcare workers will organize an international convention and during the strike only emergencies would be handled in all sectors.