Chandigarh: Nurses association and PGIMER admin refuse to end deadlock

Punjab: The ongoing negotiation between the nurses association and the administration at PGIMER over the matter of working hours of the newly appointed nurses is reported to be making no headway. More than 2000 nurses represent the association negotiating on the table with the administration.

PGI currently offers three shifts for the nurses of eight-hour duration each. The association has been demanding shifts be changed to six hours in the morning and evening, with a night shift of 12 hours.

Even in the next few days, there is no clarity expected on the issue as no meeting in scheduled between them. The association members have also alleged that the PGI administration is avoiding any talks on the issue.

Lakhvinder Singh, who heads the PGI Nurses’ Association, told The Chandigarh Newsline on Wednesday: “There is no meeting scheduled in the next few days with the administration about this issue. We will hold a press conference on Saturday and will expose the PGI administration, how they are illegally making the nurses work extra against the recommended hours.”

The Chandigarh Newsline reported on Wednesday that the PGI administration has issued orders stopping the salaries of 575 newly appointed nurses for allegedly changing their working hours without the approval of the administration.

Singh further implied that there has been a continuous shuffling of the meeting on the issue, after the first meeting was conducted on April 1. We want to discuss over the issue since the institute doesn’t have any circular that mentions about the working hours of the nurses at the Institute. The nurses in turn, are ready to work for any hours, which is clearly against the rules.

Reacting to the allegation that the hospital administration is not interested to end the deadlock, PGI spokesperson said a meeting was called for April 5 and has been deferred to a later date on the advise of the labour department.