GMTA threatens to go on strike from March 22

Members of the Gujarat Medical Teacher's Association (GMTA) have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from March 22, if the government fails to meet their pending demands, which also include disparity in pay scales under UGC.

"Competent authorities of the medical education department have chosen to 'sit put' on our demands till date and our resubmitted files collect dust on their tables as they are busy in 'other important issues'. Owing to this we are forced to revive our agitation, full throttle. We have submitted our seventh memorandum to the authorities stating our plan of action", informed central president of GMTA, Dr Rajnish Patel.

Their plan of action includes a rally from IT circle to collector's office on March 17. If the demands are still not met or addressed expressly by March 21, then 2700 GMTA members across Gujarat will go on an indefinite strike starting March 22.

GMTA has also carried out a secret ballot for the strike and most of its members have approved of the same, informed Dr JC Makwana, member, GMTA.

"Over 90% teachers want to go on strike as most feel that without such a step their demands will never be met. While in Vadodara Municipal Hospital there were 190 YESs and 30 NOs, in Jamnagar Municipal hospital we received 198 YESs and 22 NOs; in BJ Medical College we received 255 YESs and 25 NOs and in Rajkot medical hospital we received 98 YESs."

"We were earlier assured by the state health minister that our demands will be met and hence we did not proceed with the strike. But it was just an eyewash," said Dr Patel.