Employees of Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, began intensifying their work sanctions today. MDA spokesmen said that their ambulances will no longer transport patients whose lives are not in danger to government hospitals. Instead MDA will transport patients to hospitals affiliated with Israeli Health Funds. MDA workers have so far turned in 300 pagers, such that they will not be available for emergency calls . Five ambulances will be parked in front of the Finance and Health Ministries every hour starting at 3PM - meaning that many less ambulances available to deal with emergencies.
The work sanctions are in protest of the lack of compensation for MDA employees who work shifts “on-call.” The increase in emergency personnel man-hours has been significant over the past year of Arab violence and terrorism.
The work sanctions are in protest of the lack of compensation for MDA employees who work shifts “on-call.” The increase in emergency personnel man-hours has been significant over the past year of Arab violence and terrorism.