Kerala: Nurses' indefinite stir from April 24

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: United Nurses Association (UNA) on Monday launched indefinte dharna in front of secretariat to demand the implementation of the revised salary as per the revised draft notification issued by the government. Nurses belonigng to the private sector launched the indefinte satyagraha. The satyagraha will be converted into indefinite strike from April 24 paralysing the health care services in private hospitals.

The association has also urged the government to resolve the strike of nurses at KEM Hospital Cherthala.  The UNA accused the Minimum Wages Advisory Board of sabotaging the draft notification on related to revised salary including minimum wages.  Earlier this month, the Kerala High Court had observed that the government was entitled to raise the minimum wages for nurses by issuing a notification.

The court had rejected the plea by managers of private hospitals who said that  the minimum wages of Rs 20,000 proposed by government, if implemented, would impose huge burden on their hospitals.  However, the United Nurses Association accused  the private hospital managements of attempting to derail the minimum wages by raising baseless arguments.