Around 300 workers of the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in the city have threatened to cease work alleging mental harassment by the management and discrepancy in wages. While the workers had protested last week against non-compliance of their longstanding demands, the hospital management refused to comment on this issue.

“The Deenanath Mangeshkar workers’ union was formed last year with 380 workers out of 550 as its members. We have been trying to put across our demands to the hospital management since last year, but in vain,” said Vijay Khude, president of the union.

The prime demand includes immediate cancellation of inter-departmental transfers. “The management has been resorting to frequent inter-departmental transfers causing inconvenience to workers. For instance, a worker from the blood bank is asked to work in the ward, where his nature of work is different. This results in poor performance,” said Khude. The workers’ union is attached to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. President of BMS Balasaheb Bhujbal said, “The workers are given Rs 400 as good behaviour allowance, Rs 500 as teamwork allowance and Rs 200 as attendance allowance. However, it is observed that workers who have been instrumental in forming the union are being targeted and being refused these allowances on unreasonable grounds.”

The workers’ cost-to-company salaries range from Rs 6000 to Rs 6500 per month. According to Khude, the union has been trying to discuss these issues with the management. “However, they refuse to respond to our issues. Till now we have been resorting to peaceful protests considering we are in emergency service. However, if the management continues to ignore us, we might have to cease work,” he said.

... contd.