GMOA members say 'thank you'

MEMBERS present at the Government Medical Officers' Association emergency General Committee Meeting held on February 3 to discuss the suspension of the PA Circular 1/2006 has thanked President Mahinda Rajapakse for `directing the National Council for Administration to summon a meeting with the Trade Unions.

The Association's letter addressed to President Mahinda Rajapakse has stated that the Association has its own reservations about the highest and lowest salary structures. They However strongly believe that technical matters of this nature should be better left in the hands of the experts in the subject."

Therefore, the GMOA requests Your Excellency to consider lifting temporary suspension as that was a salary restructuring process and not a one off event and direct the NCA to speedily attend to the contentious issues in due course and ensure the continuation of the salary restructuring process that began 36 months ago",.

The letter while informing the President about the presence of the members of the trade unions at the February 3rd meeting, who were not represented at the January 30th meeting chaired by him has requested the President to issue a supplementary circular considering their legitimate concerns.

The letter further said that the members present at the February 3rd meeting had agreed with the principal content of the Circular which included among other things:

* To assure the independence of the National Council of Administration;

* To appreciate the move towards the drafting of a national policy on salary structuring and development;

* To agree in general to the minimum wage policy;

* There are deficiencies affecting a multitude of middle grade Trade Unions;

* The All Island Service Trade Unions while accepting the Circular with reservations to request the implementation of the suspended Circular as that was a salary restructuring process and not a one off event;

* The All Island Service Trade Unions has also maintained that the NCA should speedily take steps to obtain the views of the aggrieved parties and to take steps to issue a supplementary circular considering their legitimate concerns.