Thrissur: A major protest has erupted among private hospital nurses demanding a minimum monthly salary of ₹40,000, with a complete strike now underway in several districts of Kerala. The agitation remains strong in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur where hospital managements have not yet reached an agreement with the nurses’ organisation, the United Nurses Association.
However, the strike has been withdrawn in nearly 200 private hospitals across other districts after managements agreed to offer higher wages. Hospitals that signed agreements to increase the basic salary have already resumed normal operations, with nurses returning to duty.
Earlier, the draft notification proposing a revision in minimum wages had been rejected by the United Nurses Association. A breakthrough came after discussions held in Thrissur with several hospital managements. Following the talks, the strike was called off at institutions including Daya Hospital, Sun Medical Hospital, Mother Hospital, and hospitals under the KIMS Health group, with nurses resuming their duties.
Nurses had earlier announced plans for an indefinite strike in hospitals unwilling to accept their demands. The partial settlement was reached after negotiations between the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) and the United Nurses Association, raising hopes for further agreements in the coming days.
