Talks fail to end nurses’ strike at two Thrissur hospitals

Nurses affiliated to the United Nurses Association staged a protest outside the Thrissur Archdiocese headquarters on Sunday demanding a pay hike. | Photo credit: KK NAJEEB

Talks by the management of Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute and Amala Institute of Medical Sciences and the United Nurses Association (UNA) on Sunday failed to break the deadlock over nurses’ wages, sparking tense scenes outside the Thrissur Archdiocese headquarters.

The hospital management claimed that an immediate wage revision was not feasible, but said it would abide by any wage revision announced by the state government.

UNA president Jasmin Shah said the sisters would not withdraw their agitation unless justice was served. The association warned that the protest would intensify the bringing of more nurses in the coming days.

Nurses affiliated to the UNA have been on strike for the past three months in front of both hospitals, demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage to ₹40,000.

The Sunday meeting, chaired by Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, was attended by representatives of both the hospitals and UNA. Management said they are already paying wages in line with the minimum wages announced by the government and in several cases above them.

Archbishop Thazhath said he would facilitate an urgent meeting with the Chief Minister, Labor Minister and other government authorities. He expressed hope that the government would take a final decision on the wage issue within a month and said efforts would be made to speed up the process.

Published – 28 Jun 2026 21:46 IST