THRISSUR: Around 500 nurses working in various private hospitals staged a protest in front of the District Collectorate here on Monday. The United Nurses Association launched the indefinite stir demanding increase in wages and implementation of the Supreme Court orders and reports submitted by the government- constituted Balaraman and Veerkumar Committee.
The token strike which began from the Vidyarthi Corner culminated at the Collectorate.
The decision to stage the protest was taken during the state-level association meet organised in the district on Saturday after the private hospital managements failed to accept their demands during talks conducted by the Labour Department. Inaugurating the strike, United Nurses Association president Jasminsha said the token strike will be staged in other districts if the private managements are reluctant to accept the recommendations of the Balaraman and Veerkumar Committee.
He said notices have already been served to hospitals across the state. The association said a meeting was convened by the Labour Minister with the management representatives on 15 June. However, the representatives refused to accept the demand to revise the salaries. This has pushed them on the warpath.
However, if the managements deny our rightful claim, the protest will intensify, the association warned. Jasminsha informed rallies and campaigns will be conducted at other places too. Meanwhile, the protest in the district caused inconvenience to patients as it partially affected functioning of the hospital. However, the association had informed only limited number of nurses would be present at the emergency wards. Depending on the urgency of the situation, the association will take a decision on whether to deploy more nurses or not. A team of specialised nurses was ready for this purpose, the association said.
End strike, KSHRC tells nurses
T’Puram: In the wake of the rising cases of fever in the state, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has asked the striking nurses of private hospitals in Thrissur district to end their agitation. The commission has also asked the nurses to defer the state-wide strike slated to begin on June 27.
Commission member K Mohan Kumar, in his order, asked the government to initiate discussions to find a solution to the nurses’ demands. When the state is in the grip of fever, there will be dangerous consequences if the health sector comes to a standstill, the commission noted. Advising the government and the nurses to adopt a conciliatory approach, the commission sought explanation on the matter from the Health Secretary, Labour Commissioner and the United Nurses Association.