Nurses working at PGI (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) Chandigarh have decided to go on a 1-day strike requesting their demands to be met by the authorities. It is not just the nurses at PGI Chandigarh who will be on a mass casual leave on 26th February, but the move has been planned by All India Nurses Federation.
There are over 2000 nurses at PGI Chandigarh and the PGI Nurses Welfare Association has decided to quit work in the hospital for 24 hours on 26th Feb. The strike would be from 8:00 AM on 26th Feb to 8:00 AM on 27th Feb.
PGI authorities have postponed almost all surgeries scheduled for 26th Feb, 2016. The OPD registration timings for 26th Feb have been reduced by one and a half hour as the registration window will be open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM on 26th Feb, instead of the normal timings till which are till 11:00 AM. Due to the strike being carried on by the nurses, PGI authorities have made a mass appeal to public to avoid visiting PGI hospital on 26th Feb 2016.
Image Credits: Hindustan Times
However, some arrangements have been made by PGI. As nurses would be on strike, the PGI authorities are taking help from nursing students who would help in basic work at PGI.
Why are PGI nurses striking?
The demands being made by nurses include:
1) Salary increment as per 7th Pay Commission. Nurses claim that all other employees have been given a new pay scale while nothing has been done for nurses.
2) Better shift timings so that they can commute easily.
If the above demands are not met, the nurses associations have dared to go on an infinite strike from 15th March, 2016. This one day strike will hamper the work at PGI Chandigarh in a big way and make patients suffer.
On the other hand, the nurses at GMCH, Sector 32 and GMSH, Sector 16 have decided not to go on strike on 26th Feb, 2016. In case you want to visit a hospital, it is recommended that you go to Sector 32 or Sector 16 hospital and avoid visiting PGI on 26th Feb.
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