Nurses' strike in Kerala to hit hospital service today

Thiruvananthapuram: The hospitals in the private and cooperative sector will be badly hit with the one-day token strike planned by nearly 50,000 nurses on Thursday.

The strike will be from 7 a.m. on Thursday to 7 a.m. on Friday. Private and cooperative sector hospitals constitute nearly 65 per cent of the total health care institutions in the state. The nurses are demanding the settlement of  the 180-day-old  strike by the  nurses of  KEM Hospital, Cherthala, and implementation of the revised wages in private hospitals. They will assemble at KEM hospital on Thursday.

The indefinite fast by United Nurses Association state general secretary Sujana Pal at Cherthala entered the sixth day and his health has worsened. 

The association alleged that the district administration and health department officials had not cared to examine him medically or hold talks with the office-bearers.

With the implementation of the revised wages getting delayed and the government not paying much attention to these issues, the association alleged that private hospital managements were resorting to anti-employee steps.

The strike is also in protest against the delay in implementing the revised salary finalized by the minimum wages committee more than three months ago. As per the decision, nurses working in private hospitals were entitled to a  hike ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 17,000 across all categories.

However, the association alleged that the managements were yet to pay the revised wages. "The revised wages are being denied on flimsy grounds. Even attempts made by a section of managements to stall the implementation of higher wages couldn't succeed. The UNA has also impleaded in the case," said an officer-bearer.

Some of the managements have taken  vindictive action  despite assurance given by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the contrary in July 2017. 

The association alleged that the services of nearly 650 hospital staff, including nurses, had been terminated during the past three months. 

It hoped the government will intervene in the matter to avoid an indefinite strike in the state.