Hong Kong medical workers’ union sets up fund to support striking employees in the face of possible punishment
- Union treasurer Cheung Ka-kei says fund is ‘to compensate for the financial loss of the employees who may face termination, job suspension, or retaliation’
- Carol Ng Man-yee, chairwoman of the Confederation of Trade Unions, says fund will also apply to other unions considering a strike
A fund has been set up by the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance to support its striking members if they are penalised, as the authorities on Saturday did not rule out penalties but reiterated that all cases would be handled according to established procedures.
The union on Friday ended its five-day industrial action demanding better protection against the deadly new coronavirus and the full closure of the city’s border with mainland China, after its members voted down the plan to extend the strike.
It has asked the Hospital Authority not to impose penalties on the strikers, but the management has not made any promise.
On Saturday, the union announced setting up a fund, calling for public donation to support the striking medical workers.
“The fund is to compensate for the financial loss of the employees who may face termination, job suspension, or retaliation because of joining strikes and protests,” Cheung Ka-kei, the treasurer of the union, said.
He said some online forums had urged the public to report if they knew any medical worker who took part in the strike.