The AIIMS Nurses Union has announced an indefinite strike from today. They have been demanding redressal of their grievances, including those related to the 6th Pay Commission. The nurses are demanding redressal of issues such as abolishment of gender based reservation in the recruiting process of nursing officers, enhancement of hospital accommodation and cadre restructuring review.
The Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, made an emotional appeal to its 5,000-strong nursing staff today, which in the afternoon declared an indefinite strike citing 23 long-standing demands, including a salary hike and a freeze on hiring of contractual staff.
“I am very proud of the AIIMS family for the tremendous work done during the COVID-19…the nation is proud. Unfortunately, at this time of pandemic, the nurses’ union has gone on strike,” AIIMS Director Prof Randeep Guleria said in a video message to the AIIMS Nurses Union.
“The nurses’ union had put in 23 demands. Almost all the demands have been met by the AIIMS administration and the government,” Mr Guleria said.
He reminds of Florence Nightingale, whose 200th anniversary is being celebrated by the WHO by naming the year 2020 “The International Year Of The Nurse and The Midwife”. “This year we celebrate 200 years of Florence Nightingale, the lady with the lamp, who worked tirelessly. Today we look at the nurses to work tirelessly for those who suffered during the pandemic,” he said.
The striking nurses, however, didn’t seem in a mood to give up.
He states that the work done by paramedics during 2020 has been appreciated by everyone. He further adds that AIIMS has to lead the way in order to handle a pandemic and come out victoriously. He also talks about the nurses union and their strike. He says there are a few anomalies after the 7th pay commission and after the health minister assured that their salaries would be corrected but it has not been done.
