Health union warns day two of strike will hit harder

Health workers say responsibility for their action lies with the government. Photo: AFP

The organisers of Monday's strike by public health workers say as many as 9,000 staff are set to join a second day of industrial action today, warning that services will be see a bigger effect .



The Hospital Authority Employees Alliance is trying to try press the government for a complete border shutdown to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus outbreak.



The Hospital Authority said around 2,700 staff, including 300 doctors and nurses, took part in yesterday's strike.



Ivan Law - the vice-chairman of Alliance, says more patients will be affected today: "The efficiency of some emergency services may be affected."



He said that for example, during a normal day shift "there will be six to seven nurses working in a ward that contains about 15 patients", but with the strike action, the number could drop to the night shift quota of two to three nurses.



He said that about 70,000 people were still crossing the border every day, meaning there is still a risk of bringing the virus into Hong Kong.



Talks between HA Chief Executive Tony Ko and a packed room of disgruntled staff members quickly broke down on Monday evening after he rejected their demands to issue a public statement urging the government to impose a full border shutdown, and a promise for management not to seek retribution against any staff members who joined the strike.