The strike by nurses at Amala and Jubilee Medical Colleges, under the leadership of the United Nurses Association (UNA), demanding salary revision and other demands, is becoming stronger. A day-and-night protest began in front of Amala Hospital from 8 p.m. on Monday. The decision is to conduct a complete strike in the district after 48 hours.
The 48-hour time has been given to shift the patients currently under treatment to hospitals in other districts. UNA leaders informed that all nurses belonging to UNA will participate in the strike.
The strike at Amala Hospital had been withdrawn on Monday morning based on a letter from the Labour Officer stating that Amala Hospital had implemented a salary increase ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000. However, representatives of Amala and Jubilee managements stated in a press conference that no new salary increase had been announced and that the nurses had withdrawn from the strike by accepting an earlier decision.
They also stated that appointments had been made to the vacancies of the nurses who were on strike, and that it would be difficult to take back everyone returning after ending the strike at once.
It is in this situation that UNA decided to intensify the strike. UNA office bearers alleged that the management’s action of violating the Labour Officer’s assurance is a challenge to the government, and that Amala management is reversing its decision by yielding to Jubilee management.
There are 650 nurses at Amala and 380 nurses at Jubilee participating in the strike, which has crossed 112 days.
