Nurses in KVM Multi Specialty Hospital in Cherthala begin strike

ALAPPUZHA: The nurses under Kerala State United Nurses Association (UNA) have started indefinite strike in KVM Multi Specialty Hospital in Cherthala. The hospital is now functioning under the police security.

As per the press note of the association's KVM unit, their main demands are the minimum wages ensured by the state government to them, reinstating the sacked staff from the hospital, to stop the trainee system, and give the eligible bonus and execute three shift system.

As many as 100 nurses are attending the strike. The press note of the association said that they have issued notice to the management three months back and the management deliberately kept away from the meetings convened by the district labour officer. It forced them to start the indefinite agitation in front of the hospital, the press note said.

KVM hospital director and chief medical officer V V Haridas said they are ready to accept the demands of the nurses of the hospital except reinstating the persons whose contract with the hospital ended. "We will execute their demands by the middle o the next month. We need some time to execute the demands of the nurses and we are waiting for the government notification in connection with the minimum wages for the nurses. Once we received the notification, we will ensure minimum wages for our nurses,'' said the hospital director.