THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Will Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan break the deadlock in the nurses issue? The meeting called by the Chief Minister on Thursday is seen to be crucial with the nurses associations and hospital managements continuing to be adamant on their stand on wage revision.
Ahead of the Chief Minister’s meeting, the Industrial Relations Committee and the Minimum Wages Committee will meet here.
The United Nurses Association (UNA), which had postponed its agitation after the Chief Minister initiated the talks, said they will not deviate from their earlier demand of fixing the basic pay at Rs 20,000. The Indian Nurses Association (INA) is also of the same opinion.
UNA vice-president Aneesh Mathew and INA general secretary Mohammed Shihab said they are looking forward for an amicable solution at the Chief Minister’s meeting. The leaders said they would demand implementation of the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed committee and fixing of minimum wages at Rs 20,000. Moreover, the issue of trainee nurses would also be taken up with the Chief Minister, they said. Asked if a consensus was not reached, they said they have no other option but to intensify their agitation.