The United Nurses Association has decided to intensify its agitation against the management of the Lakeshore Hospital in the city. This, according to association leaders, was in protest against the hospital management’s retaliatory steps. However, the hospital authorities have claimed that some nurses have withdrawn from the strike and have resumed duty.
The striking nurses will start a relay hunger protest from Monday under the leadership of Mr Bibin P.Chacko, president of the Lakeshore unit of UNA. The association will also organise a sit-in protest in front of the residence of the hospital managing director, Dr Philip Augustine.
The UNA president, Mr Jasmine Shah, told mediapersons that the wages and other conditions agreed to by the hospital management during the conciliation talks had not been implemented. Despite Dr. Philip Augustine’s assurance that no striking nurse would be punished, he had already terminated the services of six nurses, Mr Shah added.
Denying the hospital management’s claim that more than 50 striking nurses rejoined duty after resigning from the organisation, the UNA president said it had only given permission to a few striking nurses who had already decided to resign from the hospital or were planning to go abroad soon.
Meanwhile, the Janakeeya Samara Samithi, which came forward in support of their cause, has decided to organise a people’s march and a vehicle rally. The samiti convener, Mr Johny V.O. said that the local residents are in support of the nurses and are keen to resolve the issue. The Maradu municipal committee will pass a resolution in this regard, he added.
The hospital authorities said the association’s claims were baseless and the functioning of the hospital has in no way been affected by the nurses’s strike.