KOCHI: The stalemate in the Lakeshore Hospital over the nurses’ stir continued for the eighth consecutive day with the talks between the striking union and the hospital management failing to reach a consensus.United Nurses Association (UNA), which is leading the agitation at the Lakeshore Hospital, said that it would continue with the strike as a consensus could not be reached in the talks held with the management and the Labour Department.“The hospital management said they would hold a board meeting on February 9 before deciding on the hike,” UNA state president Jasmine Shah said.The union has decided to continue with the strike until the demands are met, he added.The Labour Department officials had informed the UNA that the management had agreed to many of the demands and had urged the agitators to discontinue the strike as a consensus had almost been reached.However, the nurses were not ready to accept it.Shah said the nurses were of the opinion that they would only join duty after the final talks.He added that the management had given no hint as to when the next round of talks would be held.Meanwhile, many organisations, including political parties, have come in support of the strike.The All- India Medical Association has backed the nurses.It urged the government and the hospital management to find an immediate solution to the issue.Labour Minister Shibu Baby John had visited the Lakeshore Hospital on Saturday and had held discussions with the nurses and the hospital management.However, no consensus could be reached.Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan had also visited the nurses at the Lakeshore Hospital.He urged the state government to initiate action against private hospital managements which exploited nurses without giving them stipulated wages.UNA Steps Up ProtestKochi: The nurses’ strike at Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi, took a new turn after the agitators held a ‘sayanapradakshina’ on the hospital premise on Monday.This is in protest against the hospital management’s indifferent attitude towards the strike, said Shibin, a United Nurses Association (UNA) worker.As many as 12 male and female nurses participated in the ‘sayanpradakshina’.The UNA is planning to intensify the strike if the management does not come up for a talk, said another UN A member.
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