The United Nurses Association (UNA) will hold a symbolic strike demanding an increase in the basic salary of nurses in private hospitals to ₹40,000, its leaders said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, UNA founder Jaminsha said that there has been no revision of salaries in the private healthcare sector in the last seven years.
“The UNA has been demanding that the basic pay of nurses be fixed at ₹ 40,000 for the past five years. Several hospitals have expressed their willingness to pay this amount,” he said.
According to Mr. Jaminsh, the government should issue an ordinance to this effect, but no such step has been taken so far.
He said that a protest declaration rally would be held in Thrissur on February 21.
UNA officials said that during the token strike, one-third of nurses in private hospitals will continue to work, while the remaining nurses will participate in the protest.
“It is only a symbolic strike but most of the nurses will participate,” Mr Jaminsha said.
They added that nurses from 476 private hospitals across the state would participate in the protest.
The leaders said the course of further protest actions would be decided if the government failed in their demand.
Published – 05 Feb 2026 21:06 IST
