Over 16k nurses threaten cease-work over pay parity

Bhubaneswar: Patient care services are likely to be affected at govt hospitals across the state as over 16,000 nurses have decided to resort to a ceasework strike from Wednesday, demanding pay parity and benefits on a par with other employees, despite a govt directive against the strike.
“On Wednesday and Thursday, they will continue to work in emergency services, but they will start a complete cease-work protest from Friday.If the govt does not pay heed to our demands in the next two days, we will go for an indefinite ceasework protest,” said president of Odisha Nursing Employees Association, Suchismita Dash.

The association had submitted memoranda to the chief minister Mohan Majhi, health minister, chief secretary and health secretary on Sept 20, urging them to fulfil their 10-point charter of demands.
“Last month, we had staged a token dharna on the issue. Health minister Mukesh Mahaling had given verbal assurance on Aug 24 to solve our problems. But nothing has materialised yet,” said Dash.
She said no high-level meeting has been held to discuss their demands. “We waited for a month and took a decision to start the protest again. Even on Tuesday, nobody discussed our issues. There is no other option left except defying ESMA and going for a strike if the govt does not hold discussions with us,” she added.
Govt has asked medical colleges and other hospitals to take action against the nurses under the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988.
Director of nursing, Artabandhu Nayak, in a letter urged heads of govt hospitals, principals of medical and dental colleges, and all chief district medical and public health officers to take appropriate action against the nursing officers under ESMA.