Nursing staff on strike again, healthcare hit

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 7

Upset over the non-fulfillment of their key demands, despite being given assurances last month, the Punjab Government Nurses’ Association on Tuesday boycotted all medical duties. The agitators, demanding regularisation of their services, and rise in salaries said, even after a meeting with the health minister, no action has been taken by the government.

Major demands

• Rectify errors related to Rs 3,200 and Rs 2,800 in the pay matrix. The protesters said they were earlier paid a salary of Rs 4,600 (B grade category), which was surprisingly reduced to Rs 3,200 and there are plans to reduce it further to D grade. Implement recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission; give designation of nursing officer to staff nurses, which has been already implemented in other states.

The union members said all medical services by the nursing staff would remain hit for an indefinite period, if their demands were not accepted.

The key demands of the association include the regularisation of the services of the nursing staff, changing the name of the post — staff nurse to nursing officer. They demanded that while they were recently placed in the pay grade C as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, they should be provided grade B.

They also demanded Rs 7,200 as nursing care allowance for the nursing staff. Additionally, they also demanded Rs 2,010 as travel allowance and Rs 1,800 as dress allowance as per the Central pay grade.

They threatened that if the government did not give time to the joint action committee of nurses for a meeting soon, they would even go on leaves.

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