Nursing staff back on duty

KOLLAM: Following an amicable settlement to the nurses strike at Azeeziya Medical College, Meyyannoor, here, over hundred nurses who were on strike, reported  for duty on Monday.The strike, which lasted for 11 days, was called off following talks with the representatives of management and nurses under the banner of Indian Registered Nurses Association (IRNA).In the discussions held with Director of the Medical College Dr Anzar Aziz, it was agreed to implement pay hike of upto Rs 1000 for nursing staff, who have completed the probation period, from February next year. The management representatives promised that in future they would implement the minimum wages and other benefits for the nurses as and when they are announced by the State Government.As per the settlement, the management agreed to revoke the decision to dismiss  10 nurses. The nurses who were transferred from the sub-centres at Kummalloor and Chandanthope, will join back within seven days.The management also agreed to withdraw criminal cases charged against the striking nurses.The negotiating talks were reportedly held following the directive from KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and senior Congress leaders mediated in the talks.  UDF district chairman Soorand Rajasekharan, DCC president Kadavoor Sivadasan, vice-president Shanavas Khan, general secretary N Jayachandran and senior Congress leader Pandalam Sudhakaran and leaders of INTUC, IRNA, Youth Congress and KSU attended the talks.The management was represented by chairman Abdul Aziz and Dr Ansar Aziz. Rinto Thomas, office-bearer of the Indian Registered Nurses Association, which spearheaded the strike, told ‘Express’ that the management had agreed to the demands of the striking staff.