Shimla: 108/102 employees get assurance, end protest

Shimla, January 17

The 108/102 Employee Union ended its daylong protest here after it received an assurance from the government that their grievance would be addressed.

“The Chief Minister has assured us that the new company that is taking over the ambulance services would be asked to absorb all the members of the union. We have been told to give our demands to DC Shimla tomorrow, following which a meeting will be fixed with the new company,” said 108/102 Employee Union president Puran Chand.

Over 100 108/102 employee who had not been given offer letter by the new company, which is in the process of taking over the operations from GVK company, had been camping at Hotel Peterhoff to meet Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur since morning. “Out of around 1200 staff that runs the ambulance services across the state, the new company has not given offer letters to around 300 individuals,” said Puran Chand.

He further alleged that the new company has not given offer letter mostly to the employees who had put in 8-10 years with the previous company. “They have given offer letters to those with lesser experience or the freshers,” said Puran Chand.

The protesters were angry and disappointed at not getting offer letters. “We served to the best of our abilities when corona was at its peak. We risked our lives to save people, and were honoured as corona warriors. Now, we are being thrown out of jobs just like that,” said a woman emergency medical technician.

“I have put in eight years with the company. If we will lose our job, who will look after our family, who will pay the school fee of our children? Is this the award we deserve for putting our lives in danger to save others?” asked another protestor.

Will meet DC today

The Chief Minister has assured us that the new company taking over the ambulance services would be asked to absorb all members of the union. We have been told to give our demands to DC Shimla tomorrow (Tuesday). — Puran Chand, union president