Nurses’ association says wage issues resolved, Thrissur hospital says otherwise

Thrissur: The ongoing nurses’ agitation in Thrissur took a dramatic turn on Monday after leaders of United Nurses Association (UNA) claimed that the management of the Amala hospital has decided to enforce a hike in their wages, following which they are calling off the agitation.However, Amala hospital management countered this claim and said that no fresh hike in salary has been announced.UNA leaders, including state president Shoby Joseph, released a letter signed by district labour officer Jovin M M to support their claim. As per the letter, the management of the Amala Institute of Medical Sciences has declared that the stipend of trainee nurses has been increased from Rs 15,100 to Rs 22,500 while the nurses have been granted an extra allowance of Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 from this April.The supposed letter also appealed to the nurses’ association to withdraw their agitation in the wake of this assurance from the management. The UNA leaders claimed that they had withdrawn their agitation at Amala hospital.On the other hand, representatives of the Amala hospital management refuted UNA’s claims and said this hike was part of the general wage hike annually implemented at the beginning of the new financial year.

They said no fresh talks have been held between UNA and the management. According to them, further talks would be held in collaboration with the management of Jubilee Mission Hospital as the UNA members are on strike there as well.The managements of both the hospitals said they would be ready to implement further wage hikes when the govt officially announces the minimum wages for the nurses.UNA leaders, on the other hand, alleged that Amala hospital authorities backtracked from the agreement, following pressure from Jubilee Mission Hospital.They said they would intensify their agitation after which they launched a sit-in in front of the Amala hospital on Monday afternoon.