ESIC Nurses Issue 14-Day Strike Notice

Hyderabad: Nursing staff at the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital and Super Speciality Hospital at Sanathnagar have issued a strike notice, citing unresolved grievances with regard to harassment and alleged administrative lapses.

In a statement, the ESIC Nursing Officers’ Union, Telangana, said it was constrained to issue the notice over “persistent harassment, humiliation, intimidation, victimisation of nursing personnel, arbitrary administrative actions, denial of basic welfare facilities, interference in nursing administration, and failure of the local administration to resolve repeated grievances”.

Three nursing officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged sexual harassment and objectification by senior officials. One of them said a complaint had also been made to the SC/ST Commission. The union said it had repeatedly approached the dean’s office through written representations, meetings and discussions, seeking resolution of issues related to administration, service conditions, staff welfare, disciplinary matters and workplace concerns.

Though it had preferred dialogue over agitation to maintain uninterrupted patient care, the union alleged that no corrective measures had been taken and that concerns remained unaddressed, leading to dissatisfaction and loss of confidence in the administration.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, hospital dean Dr Shirish Kumar Chavan said, “Appropriate committees are investigating the complaints of harassment.”

Regarding other demands, the dean said the nursing staff want to work the morning shift, which is between 9 am and 4 pm, and want the hospital administration to post contract nursing staff for the other shifts, which is not possible. The nursing staff have to work on rotating shifts.

“The union wants a resting lounge for the nursing staff. But nursing officers have to be in the scheduled duty areas or the nurses' station. They have an eight-hour duty, and they should deliver the services to the patients,” Dr Chavan said. “The union also wants a separate office for the office in this hospital. But it is not possible.”