NIMS CONTRACT NURSES’ STRIKE ENTERS DAY 2

Contract nurses at the prestigious Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) continued their strike on second day on Saturday. Earlier, they were briefed by labour commissionerate officials that nurses who are categorised as an emergency service at this time of the Covid-19 crisis cannot go on strike.

Bonam Manjula Rani, contract nurse who was present during the talks with the labour department officials, said that they will gather as usual on Sunday and a decision will be taken after consulting with other nurses who are on strike.

The 450 contract nursing staff is demanding a salary hike, their mode of pay to be considered as consolidated pay instead of as stipend and maternity leave benefits for women nursing staff.

D. Rosy, a contract nurse, said the NIMS management had offered `25,000 without any incentives while not meeting their other demands. The nurses are being paid a ‘stipend’ of `17,000, and they want it to be hiked to `30,000 for those having more than five years of service and `25,000 for those with less.

She said, the joint commissioner of labour spoke to the contract nursing representatives and requested them to call off the agitation.

Talking to Deccan Chronicle, labour joint commissioner Dr E. Gangadhar said, “while the Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Disease Act are in force, nurses who fall under emergency services cannot go on strike. These issues can be resolved by negotiation.”

Contract nurses at Gandhi Hospital ended their strike a couple of days back after the intervention of the government. Class 4 contract workers had joined them.

THE 450 contract nursing staff is demanding a salary hike, their mode of pay to be considered as consolidated pay instead of as stipend and maternity leave benefits for women nursing staff.