India: AITUC extends full support to the agitating nurses at AIIMS | 4 June 2020

All India Trade Union Congress
AITUC Bhawan: 35-36, DDU Marg, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi – 110002
E Mail: aituchq at gmail.com Tel: +91 1123217320
President: Ramendra Kumar
General Secretary: Amarjeet Kaur
Working President: H.Mahadevan

Request for coverage in the media Date: 04.06.2020

Following statement was issued by Comrade Amarjeet Kaur- General Secretary, AITUC to the Press today the 04th June 2020.

AITUC extends full support to the agitating nurses at AIIMS for last three days. They are demanding implementation of uniform 4 hours duty with PPE in COVID areas, safety of female nurses, uniform rotation policy between COVID and Non-COVID areas, establishment of proper donning and doffing area, refreshment after doffing, display of duty roster, shuttle service during night shift, provision of ambulance facility for COVID screening/COVID positive staff among others. The AIIMS Nurses’ union has decided to go on mass casual leave on June 10 over their demands. They have threatened to go on strike if their demands are not met.

It was admitted by Dr. D.K. Sharma, Ms of AIIMS “that since February 1, at least 329 healthcare workers found COVID-19 positive. Out of them, 47 are nurses, 86 hospital attendants, 62 sanitation staff and 77 security personnel among others†. It is amazing that MS should opine that the infection did not happen at the hospital. On but basic, he could make such claims. In any case the hospital is supposed to provide the safety measures to its staff.

The Government antics of showering flowers on the front fighters and having Taalis- Thatis, Ghanties, Diya or Torches have not helped to salvage the real issues which the front fighters have been raising.

We urge the AIIMS administration to take cognizance of the demands of nurses and take appropriate measures.

Amarjeet Kaur
General Secretary AITUC