CPI-M supports nurses' stir in Kerala

India Gazette (IANS) Saturday 4th February, 2012

The Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday came out in support of nurses of a private hospital here who have struck work for better pay and working conditions.

Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan called on the nurses of Lakeshore Hospital who are on strike since the past five days.

'The management of these private hospitals charge their patients hefty fees but when it comes to paying salary for nurses, they pay them very little. I will write to the government and also to these private managements to see that this impasse ends,' Achuthanandan told reporters after meeting the nurses.

The Kerala High Court Wednesday directed police to provide protection to the hospital after it recruited 100 new nurses after failure of talks with the striking staff.

Since November 2010, when a new organisation called United Nurses Association was formed, several hospitals had to face the wrath of staff who struck work demanding better service conditions, including higher pay.

As per government rules, the starting salary of a nurse including allowances should be in the range of Rs.8,000, but most of the private hospitals pay a mere Rs.3,500-4,000.