27 April,2011 07:09 AM IST | | Priyanka Vora
While one body of nurses insists on returning to work, another insists on continuing strike to protest against unfulfilled demands
The ongoing nurses' strike at the state-run hospitals across Maharashtra has turned into quite a high-strung drama, particularly at the JJ group of hospitals, including St George Hospital, GT Hospital and the Cama & Albless Hospital.
Duty before self: The tussle between the two groups of nurses did not
hamper the usual proceedings at the JJ Hospital. Around 150 nurses
reported to work in the first two shifts at the JJ Hospital alone.
Pic/Sameer Markande
Warpath
A section of nurses, subscribing to the banner of Sarkari Paricharika Pragati Sangathna reported to work, stating that their members did not support the strike, which had been called by the nurses affiliated to the All India Nurses Federation. Approximately 150 nurses reported to work in the first two shifts at JJ Hospital alone. Such was the tension in the hospital that when these nurses reported to work, the Dean of the hospital, Dr T P Lahane, called for police protection in order to quell any possible clashes between the two groups of nurses.
Carrying on
Commendably, the tussle between the two groups of nurses did not hamper the usual proceedings at the JJ Hospital. Pushpa Chauhan, a patient admitted at the hospital, said, "Some new nurses were in the ward, but I did not experience any problem. I heard there was an ongoing strike among the nurses, but my treatment went well. I will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, if my reports come back normal." Chauhan has been undergoing treatment at the hospital for the last three months for tuberculosis.
Dr Lahane said, "We found that we could actually perform surgeries in the operation theatres in spite of the decreased strength of nurses at the hospital. Every OT has an in-charge who is responsible for the equipment. We decided not to disturb this pattern. Around half of all the nurses-in-charge reported to work, while about 30 per cent of the staff nurses came in. We also roped in around 277 student nurses to compensate for the staff shortage."
Events took an ugly turn at JJ Hospital when the members of the federation, who were carrying on with the strike, barred the nurses from Sarkari Paricharika Pragati Sangathna from entering the hospital. According to a member of the sangathna, the nurses from the other camp had stationed themselves at the gates of the hospital, denying the reporting nurses access to the hospital premises.
Demands
"The nurses had gone on strike in order to obtain approval for a number of demands that they had made. They had asked for hike in remuneration, for supply of better equipment, for appointments against the numerous vacancies in different departments, and for the sanctioning of newer posts.u00a0 They also wanted to create pressure on the authorities to approve of their desired uniform change," said Pramila Thule, secretary of the sangathna.
She added, "Even when nurses wanted to report for work, the opposing union barred them from entering the hospital. We requested for police protection. Their representatives were standing on the gates of all hospitals. The state health department has already issued a GR asking all the nurses to wear the regulation white uniforms, but instead the federation insisted that they be changed to salwaar kameez with aprons, for their convenience."
No show
Meanwhile, the strike gained momentum in other hospitals, where only a fraction of nurses reported for work. At GT Hospital, only five nurses reported of the 115 on the hospital roll, while at St George Hospital, eight of the 199 nurses showed up for work. The attendance was similarly dismal at Cama & Albless hospital, where only 25 of the total 89 nurses reported to work. The federation said that around 15,000 nurses from the state-run hospitals were on strike, while over 1,500 nurses working at the JJ group of hospitals stayed away from work.
The Other Side
Kamal Waikule, general secretary of the federation, said, "All our members were on strike. If there is another union that insists on offering their services, then our demands will never be met. We want the state to sit up and take notice of the shortage of staff in all state-run hospitals. The Nursing Council wants at least one nurse to be appointed for every three patients admitted to the hospital. We want the state to fill the posts lying vacant immediately. Initially a change in dress code was on our agenda, but later we withdrew the demand, since the matter is sub judice."
