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Vladikavkaz ambulance staff go on strike over pay decrease

Ambulance drivers and doctors also resent working overtime

VLADIKAVKAZ, August 13 (Itar-Tass) - Ambulance personnel in Vladikavkaz announced a strike over de-facto decrease of their salaries. Just eight of 17 ambulance teams were on duty on Monday.

The protest was staged after the payment of last month salaries which actually had decreased from June. "The basic salary increased from 5,000 to 8,000 rubles ($150-$240)," a doctor said, "but they took away all the allowances and bonuses; as a result, our /monthly/ salary did not even reach 12,000 rubles ($360) which they paid us in April and May."

Ambulance drivers and doctors also resent working overtime. Under municipal regulations, at least 33 ambulance teams should service Vladikavkaz, but not more than 20 are currently available.