Published Mar 09, 2026 | 2:55 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 09, 2026 | 3:08 PM
Kerala nurses strike. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The indefinite protest was called by the United Nurses Association (UNA) last week. Though the state government issued a draft notification revising nurses wages, the association rejected it, stating that it did not ensure the ₹30,000 hike they had demanded.
Nurses across several parts of Kerala observed a complete strike at private hospitals on Monday, 9 March, demanding a salary hike.
The strike is likely to disrupt services in nearly 100 hospitals in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. However, in some other districts, the strike was withdrawn after hospital managements agreed to raise wages.
Hospitals including Little Flower Hospital in Angamaly, BMH in Kannur, Pushpagiri Hospital in Thiruvalla, Caritas Hospital in Kottayam, VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi and Aster MIMS in Kozhikode witnessed protests in the early hours of Monday, disrupting hospital services.
The indefinite protest was called by the United Nurses Association (UNA) last week. Though the state government issued a draft notification revising nurses wages, the association rejected it, stating that it did not ensure the ₹30,000 hike they had demanded.
UNA has insisted that the strike will continue until the minimum monthly salary is raised to ₹40,000.
Amid the ongoing protest, 13 hospitals have agreed to increase nurses salaries to ₹40,000 and were exempted from the strike, the association said.
Talks between UNA and the All India Health Care Providers Association (AIHCPA) continued on Sunday, 8 March. UNA president Jasminsha said seven hospitals had agreed to the salary demand and signed an agreement.
UNA leader Divya ES also confirmed to South First that the hospitals had reached a settlement with the association.
According to UNA, the agreement with the seven hospitals also ends the practice of appointing trainee nurses and sets the starting salary at ₹32,750. The move is expected to raise the gross salary of nurses currently working in private hospitals by ₹8,000 to ₹12,000.
The association added that discussions are ongoing with several small and medium-sized hospitals, while many large hospitals are still reluctant to accept the demands.
Earlier, the state government had proposed raising the basic salary of nurses to ₹28,000, but UNA rejected the offer.
In Kozhikode, the nurses strike disrupted services at several major hospitals, including Baby Memorial Hospital (BMH) where many nurses stayed away from duty. A group of nurses also protested outside the hospital, alleging that UNA functionaries were threatened by management representatives.
UNA district leader Jishnu Ashok claimed some newly recruited nurses were confined in rooms and forced to report for duty.
The strike was also observed at Iqraa Hospital, Aster MIMS, Meitra Hospital, Fathima Hospital, Malabar Hospitals, Red Crescent Hospital in Feroke and Santhi Hospital in Omassery.
Hospitals are relying on auxiliary staff to manage essential services.
Striking nurses also staged a protest outside the District Collectorate, where Minister P.A Mohamed Riyas was booed by some protesters while passing by.
UNA leaders said the protest would continue if their demands are not met.
(With inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
