Contract nurses threaten state-wide stir

Janaarogya Andolana Karntaka (JAAK), on Friday, condemned the decision of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) to relieve 409 stipendiary nurses from service. 

They said they will render their full support in the coming days in case by February 26, the matter is not solved.

On February 21, Deputy Labour Commissioner Sripad Rao had asked both the BMCRI and stipendiary nurses to solve the issue and arrive at a decision by February 26. Maitri, a terminated nurse, however, is not happy with the response from BMCRI.

Briefing reporters, she said: “The BMCRI officials suggested in the meeting that only 200 out of 409 stipendiary nurses who have got the contract renewed on December 31, 2012 will probably be taken back. Although some of the nurses couldn’t get their contract renewed, all of them were working till January 8 and we even have order copy as the proof. We request the BMCRI to reinstate all the contractual nurses at the earliest.”

A few nurses alleged that the BMCRI was not much in favour of taking nurses back after they went on strike and took the matter to the court.

However, the members of BMCRI Stipendiary Staff Nurses’ Welfare Association indicated that they will take up the matter further in the labour court and go on a state-wide agitation in case the BMCRI doesn’t respond favourably in the next few days.   

JAAK members, besides demanding the immediate reinstatement of the contractual nurses in permanent positions, also condemned O S Siddappa, the Dean and Director of BMCRI for violating the several labour and human right norms.