Kolenchery MCH nurses’ begin relay hunger strike

Saturday, February 4, 2012: The strike called by more than 600 nurses of MOSC Medical College at Kolenchery entered eighth day. The nurses began relay hunger strikes on Saturday to mount pressure on the Government to concede their demands.
The nurses have decided to resort to strike after a prolonged discussion, held between the hospital management and the nurses union and mediated by the labour commission, failed to reach a solution.
The nurses union at the Medical Hospital under the All India Nurses Welfare Association had given a 15-day ultimatum to the Hospital Management with a list of 19 demands, including salary hike and reduction of working hours.
The deadline ended on January 26, following which the labour commission initiated talks between the management and the nurses union. But the talks remained inconclusive.