Thrissur: United Nurses Association (UNA) has decided to continue its indefinite strike. However, the nurses reported for duty Tuesday noon at Daya Hospital here after the management agreed to give an increment of 50 percent in salary. UNA president Jasminsha M. said some major hospitals in Thrissur had contacted them through mediators for talks in the coming days.
“But we will continue our strike till we get at least 50 percent increase which will be around Rs 15,000. In Daya, which is comparatively a smaller hospital, the nurses will now get Rs 15,000 to 20,000 after the increment. But hospitals like Mother and Jubilee Mission, which have made a huge investment, are very reluctant. They have offered a meagre 20 percent rise of Rs 1,800,” he said.
They are not expecting a positive approach from the managements at the Minimum Wages Commission meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on June 27, and it seems it will go on a statewide strike after the meeting. “No private hospital is doing any charity, and from our experience, we know that they are getting huge profit and all of them are expanding as well. So, the claim of possible financial overburden by the hospitals is a false propaganda,” he said. They began an indefinite strike in Thrissur district on Monday as a prelude.
