Nurses on strike want risk allowance, pay hike

Protesting against the discrimination meted out to nurses working in the central government hospitals, government-aided and autonomous health institutions, the ESIC (Employee’s State Insurance Corporation) Nurses Union of Tamil Nadu went on a mass casual leave protest on Friday at Chennai and Tirunelveli ESIC hospitals. The association had intimated about the strike against the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations earlier this month. Talking to DT Next, A Kathiravan, who is part of the ESIC Nurses Union, Tamil Nadu, said, “The recommendations in the Seventh Pay Commission have degraded our position. 

They have denied us night duty allowance and risk allowance. More than 40,000 of us from across the country, including those in AIIMS and Railway Hospitals are taking part in the protest against these retrograde recommendations.” Kathiravan said if their demands weren’t met, they would go on an indefinite strike from Mar 15. Mohd Ismail, General Secretary of the union, added, “Those serving as deputy nurse superintendent and asst nurse superintendent have been downgraded on the pay scale. Even the Sixth Pay Commission had not enhanced our nursing allowance.” He added that nurses are the only healthcare employees, who worked in the night shift all through their service, and they were exposed to all kinds of infections. “Those working in these hospitals have to be treated on par with other government employees,” he said.