Hundreds of nurses from three corporate hospitals boycotted work on Saturday, as a result of which hospitals deployed their nursing students and tutors to attend to the patients. While the nurses of Madras Medical Mission, Mogappair, continued their strike on Saturday, those in Fortis Malar Hospital, Adyar, and Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, also struck work.
According to Jinu Varghese, secretary of All India Private Nurses' Association, around 60 nurses in Malar Hospital had been issued suspension orders and male nurses had been asked to vacate the hostel in Thiruvanmiyur. In both hospitals, the nurses plan to continue their strike, Mr. Varghese said. A representative of the 800 nurses on strike at Apollo Hospitals said that they would continue their strike on Sunday and stick to their demand for a monthly salary of Rs.15,000.
In a press release, Brig. Joe Curian, Chief Executive Officer, Madras Medical Mission, said that at the end of an eight-hour discussion with the representatives of the striking nurses and the Additional Commissioner of Labour C. Somburajan on Friday, the management had agreed to discuss the nurses' demand of Rs.15,000 as salary and that a decision would be announced on March 19. It would return nurses' certificates after verification; provide double payment for overtime instead of extra weekly offs and issue experience certificate after one year of service.
The management would not insist on executing bonds and has sought a notice of 14 days from nurses for going on strike. It has also stated that participants of the strike would not be penalised but salary would not be paid to those participating. According to Mr. Curian, the nurses were continuing their strike despite agreeing to rejoin duty on Saturday. Global Hospitals, MIOT Hospitals and Billroth Hospitals issued a joint statement along with the three affected hospitals stating that indirect benefits such as accommodation, transportation and meals provided to the nurses formed part of the overall remuneration package. “Beyond these costs incurred by the hospital organisation, as mentioned, an enormous amount is spent on training the nurses and skill building for which the nurses are not charged,” the statement said.
Salaries for nurses are commensurate with their qualification, said A.K. Ravi Kumar, secretary, Tamil Nadu Private Nursing Homes Board. According to him, the demand for paramedical staff is high across the world, and hence the high attrition. Corporate hospitals are only slightly better off as they can fall back on nursing students until they finish their education.
“Since qualified nurses move for better salary, most of the small and medium hospitals contend with poorly trained nurses. To prevent this, we have proposed that the smaller institutions which send their students to us for six months training should register with the Board,” he said.
Keywords: nurses strike
i Quote “Beyond these costs incurred by the hospital organisation, as
mentioned, an enormous amount is spent on training the nurses and
skill building for which the nurses are not charged,” The Hindu 4th
march 2012.
First of all you guys don't train nurses in service, even if you
do,why are you training a nurse ? To benefit their family?
This is my sincere appeal to all those want good health. I am nurse
worked in three different countries . I'll tell you guys one thing for
sure... unless you improve the pay and living conditions of these
souls, public will suffer indirectly.
My Pay 175000 rs a month Doctor's pay 200000 rs a month ..Result.... i
upgrade my knowledge and keep myself up to date, Nurses,Doctors and
management we all have a healthy working attitude....Patient enjoys
good care..... simple . If you pay me less and push me to do more....
it is called exploitation and it is unfair.
Hope people in authority who can make a change think about this and do
something about it.
nurses are the group always exploited by all. By mentioning 'service' all religious groups continues to exploit them. They teach nurses that what they do is a noble work and will be honored in heaven!! Because majority are women they are harassed and threatened . In most hospitals they are treated as slaves.they tolerate this sufferings dreaming to escape to abroad where they are treated with dignity. all are trying to escape as soon as they get a chance abroad. Surgical procedure is a team work when the Drs are given huge amount as commission and operation charges why cant they give some share to the nurses also who is participating and assisting in the operations and attending the patient 24hrs till recovery All the hospitals are charging huge amount from patients as nursing charges where is this money going? a domestic servant is paid much more than nurses now don't the corporates feel ashamed to pay this mean amount to their nurses who is the backbone of their organisation ??
the world, dear friends, is watching. unknowingly do not create circumstances whereby the trust of the int'l customer is shattered. do not kill this industry solely owing to your greed for more. remember there are many other stakeholders whose interests cannot be sacrificed owing to your demand for a larger share. the competitiveness of the industry cannot be compromised with. in a free market economy the market forces shall on their own protect the dual interest of customers and employees. you surely don't want another kingfisher. the future generations of nursing fraternity shall face the brunt of your myopic approach. we surely do not want a scenario where tomorrow even nursing jobs start getting outsourced and the service conditions go down the hill. you are responsible to the nation. you cannot do this. service to humanity is the only right you have.
It is high time that members of the paramedical community get their due. For far too long have they been subjucated to being overworked, handling diverse responsibilities. We should understand the very trying circumstances under which they provide exemplary service to countless very sick patients. Training and provision of food and accomodation are requisites they justly deserve in addition to fair and equitable wages. While corporates and their consultants share the bulk of the profits, is there anything wrong in nurses seeking their own share? We live in a society where tickets for the IPL sell for thousands, yet we grudge & drag our feet, to pay peanuts to the very persons who look after us to clean & nurse our bodies! Shame on the system! We can surely do better to acknowledge the selfless service of our nursing comrades and give them their due rights. Now is the time!
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