Talks fail as hospitals not ready for 50% pay hike

Thiruvananthapuram: The united nurses association (UNA) has urged the state government to fix the minimum wages for nurses working in the private sector. It was following the adamant stand taken by private hospital managements to not to increase the pay by 50%. Both the parties took part in the talks convened by labour commissioner here on Tuesday.

Labour minister T P Ramakrishnan would meet both the sections for a final discussion.

“The managements have not agreed to our demands. Now we are waiting for the government to act,’’ said Jasmine Shah, state president of UNA.

The managements made it clear that they would accept only a 30% hike in the pay. They pointed out that a 50% hike, as demanded by the UNA, would push many small hospitals to the verge of shut down.

The UNA has decided not to go ahead with the indefinite strike called from Wednesday until the final discussion is over. However, the association would stage a dharna before the secretariat on Wednesday and in all district centres to protest against the stand taken by the managements.

Also, the ongoing agitation in Thrissur will continue and the UNA has decided to extend it to more districts, including the state capital from Wednesday without affecting the functioning of hospitals. tnn