THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEGGING AND TRADE UNIONISM

At present GMOA is having almost 100 branch Unions Island wide.
"Thanks" to the current EX CO, many are inactive at the moment.

Many are not having branch presidents, or branch secretary has gone on transfer orders.
Many branches have been “expired” (Office bearers are more than 1 year old).
In some no regular branch union meetings are held.
In some the branch officials are very unpopular so as the current ex co and members, due to their personal agendas and members are not participating for their activities.
Some branches have been infested with “ACGMOA” and “AMS”.

The current ex co facilitates this situation by various means ,in a few branches the branch Secretaries act as spies to report the “Anti ex co” movements of the members to the ex co.

Due to this weakening process, some members seem not to know the difference between a beggar and a trade union leader because both parties do the same. That is “asking for more”
A beggar will beg, (ask for more) and get” something” for himself.
A trade union leader will demand (ask for more) and get what is due for the profession.

EX CO TACTICS !

These are the slogans of the ex co remnant !


1
“We came uncontested; I have given everything the membership needed. They were happy and contented until (Dr Padeniya’s) your arrival. You are the one who went right around the country creating unnecessary problems".

Answer-This statement shows their immaturity and ignorance on the “burning” nature of membership issues. What Dr.Padeniya did was just surfacing them.

2
"An independent team also will come".

Answer-As a concept -Many contestants, contesting at the election is healthy for the democracy, but such a team winning the election is remote. But more chance is there for such a team to split the “anti ex co “votes and indirectly support the ruling party.

3
This is the SMS that was circulated with the blessings of the EX CO
“Awaits-not the best, but better combined team to avoid/prevent 3rd class politics come into the election. Some are already willing to step down to safeguard the gmoa and to rest a bit. This is a good trend”.

Answer-These people who are willing to step down now, should have done it many months back. Any sort of Combinations with people who have violated the constitution is a betrayal of the membership. This has to be rejected in Toto.

4
"Let’s go for a interim committee to address the needs of the membership. Then either party can help them. This is the “best way out”

Answer-This was what the members thought many months back in order to find solutions to their problems. It did not turn out to be a reality .Now the time has passed and we do not need it any further.
Sarcastically, this is what the present regime wants at the moment as their last resort. They would be more than happy to go for an interim committee in order to “bury” their dark smelly past.

Hence do you know the single responsible answer for all these slogans? nonsense !

Why was Dr.Padeniya "Kicked off "from GMOA Ex Co !

There are some individual who criticise the behaviour of Dr.Padeniya within the present Ex Co.
Their main argument is that Dr.Padeniya went around the country criticising the activities of the present ex co.But any body who had listened to Dr.Padeniya knows that everything he said was about THE SALARY,ALLOWANCES AND OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE(WD manager,service minutes etc).There was nothing personal.

This time as a result of two requests shown below,Dr.Padeniya has been "Kicked off" from the Ex CO,giving the Ex Co a escape route.

Reason given was "being unable to attend 3 consecutive EX CO meetings".Please note one of the request itself is to hold regular general committee and ex co meetings. and there were no ex co meeting in most of the weeks.

Letter 1.

Letter 2

LETTER 3.
The decision to"Kick Off" Dr.Padeniya came followed the 2 nd letter-which asks for a general body meeting!.


This made the Ex Co to escape from holding the general body meeting !


WHY DOES THE CURRENT RULING PARTY IN THE EX CO FEAR THIS MUCH TO HOLD A GENERAL BODY MEETING?
YOU DECIDE!

CEPA-WAKE UP! YOUR JOBS ARE IN DANGER !

Few years back when a massive protest was raised against the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) between India and Sri lanka , it was agreed by the authorities to exempt Health sector from the purview of the agreement.
But now it has been revealed that CEPA is getting implemented (?) without the knowledge of many of us.
First Cardiothoracic surgeons came from India to work in our private sector. Many doctors thought that their jobs are safe since they are not consultants.

Then cardiothoracic medical officers came. Many doctors thought that they are safe since they are not from the field of surgery.

But that was proved wrong when cardiothoracic anesthetists also appeared in to the scene. Now many are still thinking that they safe since they are not at all related to the field of cardiothoracic.

NOW THE “JUDGEMENT DAY” of the fields of Pathology and Radiology is about to come.
Still there is no sign of vigilance noted among the Sri lankan medical professionals.

Since the GMOA which is supposed to be the “watch dog” of the profession is also snoozing up, the future of Sri Lankan Medical professional seems to be in dark.

Hence we would like to cry out “WAKE UP! YOUR JOBS ARE NOT SAFE! ”

DO ONCALLS ! BUT NO TELEPHONE ALLOWANCE !

At present the above illustrated circular has been withdrawn by Sec.Health due to the pressure of the "Kandy consultants".

When you compare specialist medical officers with the parallel categories(eg DG) mention in the circular,it is clear that the relative position of specialist medical officers has been depreciated by this circular.
Due to the pressure of the consultants their issue will be rectified in the near future.

BUT,
What will happen to grade medical officers.When our pararal categories like engineers and Lawyers are enjoying the telephone allowance we have been barred from it!
Remember we are the people who are on call most of the times!
NO SOUND FROM GRADE MEDICAL OFFICER'S CAMP ?
THEN KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT AND DO ON CALLS WITH OUT ANY MURMUR !
At the same time-"vote for the ruling party"-if an election comes by any chance!

Petrol,Petrol,PETROL,PETROL.....!

Fighting for a salary/allowance hike is multi frontal.

* Membership concerns should be fortified with rational arguments.

* Then Media needs to be handled effectively!

* Anti doctor ministry should be controlled and guided properly.

* More than every thing,Non medical salary committee has to be convinced.

* Then comes the step of convincing the political authority!and bringing it to a
reality

Since the salary commission acts as a buffer zone between the political authority and the trade union,if we could pierce the salary committee more than 90 % of the process is over.
If you analyse the above document(Document 1) you will realize that 90% mark of this process had been completed in the case of the DAT allowance(worth of Rs.21000/= )by year 2008.
Document 2 shows you the ultimate yield of Rs 10,000/= for the DAT allowance.This is quite appreciable when the war condition prevailed in the country was taken in to consideration.At the same time you may realize that a sum of Rs 11,000/= is at our door step.

After that,
year 2009 passed marking the end of the war,present ex co(most of them)
continued to be in power.
In year 2010 also nothing happened.Present ex co came to power "UNCONTESTED".
In 2011-while the our university counter parts got Rs.12,000/= + salary hike we
had to satisfy(?)with just Rs 4000/=.

PETROL PRIZES GO HIGH UP DAY BY DAY! The present ex co who failed to complete the remaining 10% of the process of getting the 21,000/= DAT allowance until now have started boasting of getting the Rs 21,000/= for you at the dawn of the GMOA election.

Leave aside the fact wheather we are going to get it under the present regime,

BUT REMEMBER THAT THE LETHARGY OF THIS EX CO HAD COST YOU RS 11,000?= PER MONTH !

LET'S PROTECT OUR PROFESSION FROM THE EX CO AND FROM ADVERSE PRESS PUBLICITY

Present Ex of the GMOA is not interested on making policies.

The only policy they practice is "NO POLICY".

They believe much more on making personal contacts with "Big shots in the country,than on making policies".
What we believe is that personal contacts will bring benefits personally to those individuals,but not to the profession.

It is time to prepare a proper transparent"POLICY ON POST INTERN APPOINTMENTS"
In the presence of a such policy We will be able to maintain unity among our members and defend our selves from adverse press publicity.We will not get humiliated in public as a union and as a profession.

Making a policy needs commitment and trust on democracy.
Unfortunately those are what our ex co lack most.

CPD -LET'S ACHIEVE IT DEMOCRATICALLY !

The National Committee for continuing professional development (NCPPDIM) has been collaborating with the Sri Lanka Medical Council in this Endeavour. Contentious issues have been resolved and a consensus achieved between all stake holders including the GMOA and IMPA. Under the leadership of the SLMC we expect this to be a reality in 2011.
-SLMA NEWS LETTER DECEMBER 2010

According to the above statement “consensus achieved between all stake holders including the GMOA” after resolving the controversial issues.
Questions to be asked from the EX CO

1. As the GMOA have we come to a decision regarding “CPD”? NO

2. In which General Committee Meeting or GMOA work shop this consensus was achieved?
NO GENERAL COMMITTEE OR WORKSHOP HELD ON THIS BEHALF

3. At the meetings with SLMA/SLMC who represented on behalf of the GMOA?
NO BODY HAS BEEN EMPOWERED BY THE GENERAL COMMITTEE TO REPRESENT
US ON THIS MATTER

3 .Then how did this happen?

………………………All these happened due to lack of democracy within the GMOA .There is no recognition for the views of our membership.
LET’S SAY ‘’YES’’ TO A WELL STRUCTURED CPD!

BUT “NO” TO THE UNDEMOCRATIC REGIME OF THE PRESENT EX CO!