Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 8

The Nursing staff from across the district under the banner of the Punjab Nursing Association held strike at the Civil Hospital here today. The strike was held in solidarity with the nursing staff across the state to support their demands regarding the Sixth Pay Commission.

Nurses went on a mass casual leave and observed a pen-down strike during which all emergency services were suspended.

Members of the joint action committee (JAC), Punjab, also held a meeting with Dr Vikas Garg, Health Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, on Monday between 8 am and 10 am. Union members submitted their demands to the health secretary during meeting. The prime demands of the nursing staff include increasing their pay grades.

Earlier, they were receiving salaries in the Rs4,600 (B grade), which were reduced to Rs3,200 (C grade) and now there were plans to move it further down to Rs2,800 (D grade), said nurses. They sought rectification of this error and pay matrix correction. They also demanded nursing care allowances along other allowances and staff nurse be given the designation of nursing officer, implemented in other states.

Meanwhile, Dr Vikas Garg, assured members of the JAC, Punjab, that their meeting with the Finance Minister would be arranged soon.

Earlier, their meeting was held in three parts. Union members said no fruitful results came out of the meeting and they were unsatisfied.

The JAC, Punjab, decided that as long as their grievances were not resolved the nursing staff would remain on pen down strike and emergency services would also remain suspended. The nursing staff is on mass casual leave for two days. Their strike will continue tomorrow.