Karnataka ambulance crew to go on strike again seeking annual increment

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru:, Oct 14, 2026: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and drivers working under Karnataka’s 108 ambulance service have threatened to go on strike from Wednesday midnight, demanding annual salary increments and the fulfilment of assurances made during their previous protest.

The strike call has been issued by the Suvarna Karnataka Arogya Kavacha (108) Employees Association and the Karnataka State Arogya Kavacha (108) Ambulance Employees Association after talks with Health Department officials reportedly failed to yield results.

The associations said nearly 3,200 ambulance drivers and EMTs would stop work from Wednesday midnight. They have also obtained permission to stage a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on October 22.

Speaking to the media, association member Paramshiva said officials had agreed to provide salary increments during the previous round of discussions, but the revised salaries had not been credited as expected. The association now understands that the government has decided against implementing the proposed hike, he said.

The drivers and EMTs are employed through GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI), which operates the ambulance service. According to the association, after the previous protest was called off, the company submitted a revised proposal worth ₹174 crore, including the proposed increments. However, the Health Department has reportedly declined to accept the proposal.

Health Minister U T Khader said the government wanted to invite fresh tenders and had asked the employees to wait until December.

“We want to call for new tenders and asked them to wait till December, but they have decided to go on a protest. This feels like blackmail. Let them strike,” Khader said.

However, the association maintained that the proposed tender process and the request to wait until December had not been communicated to its members.

Chandranna, an EMT working in Bengaluru, said the contract with GVK EMRI was signed in 2018 for ₹162 crore and had continued without salary increments over the past eight years.

Despite their role in saving lives, employees continued to receive low salaries, he said, adding that even those with 25 years of experience earned around ₹12,000 a month.

Another EMT, Girish T S, said officials had repeatedly delayed discussions during earlier protests and had failed to act despite several requests.

Key demands of 108 ambulance employees

The employees are demanding annual salary increments, which they say have been pending for eight years, with increases calculated according to seniority.

Their other demands include:

A shift-based duty system to regulate working hours.

Compensation of ₹50 lakh for drivers who die while on duty or due to multiple organ failure.

Payment of salaries before the seventh of every month.

Provision of basic amenities at all ambulance service locations.

The associations have warned that the proposed strike could disrupt emergency ambulance services across Karnataka if the dispute is not resolved.