POLICY STATEMENT -Strikes
Following is the text of the statement of ‘TNAI Policy with Regard to Strikes by Nurses’ discussed at the TNAI Council Meeting in 1973 (and earlier) and approved by the Executive at the meetings at New Delhi in July 1976:
The Trained Nurses’ Association of India has for many years been greatly concerned about the economic welfare of Nurses and action which may be taken to negotiate for better benefits and working conditions for the profession. The following facts have emerged during this time:
1.The TNAI cannot be legally appointed as a negotiating body either at a local, state or national level – for the reasons:
(a) Membership of the TNAI includes Nurses working not only in Government, but also in private and voluntary organizations and even in private practice;
(b) The membership does not include a majority of Government employed Nurses.
2. The advice of the TNAI is listened to, with respect, and sometimes acted upon. But such advice is given on the initiative of the TNAI, but the TNAI does not have the right of representation in negotiations.
3. The TNAI as a national body can give a broad support to local or state organizations of Nurses.
4. The trend in society and industry in India is increasingly towards obtaining the right of re-dressing grievances through union activities and all too often through strikes, which, unfortunately, frequently become violent in nature.
5. Since Nurses are in need of help in solving both professional and personal problems in relation to their work, and because the TNAI cannot act as a negotiating body, there has been a rapidly increasing number of Government Nurses’ Service Association formed in various States. Many Nurses, however, have joined unions of paramedical workers, and even Fourth Class employees, where they lose their professional standing and are forced to abide by decisions including strike voted by non-Nurses and controlled by non professional leaders.
6. While union activities and strikes may be necessary in industry and for other workers the method used can be dangerous and damaging to the society when used without safeguards to protect the clients (i.e. the public) in lifesaving professions such as Nursing and Medicine. A profession by definition is a body which controls its own activities and which must keep the welfare of its clients in mind at all times.
7. To move into the trend of union activities which seems to be necessary to better conditions for Nurses and at the same time, to maintain the dignity and standard of the Nursing profession we suggest the following policies:
(a) TNAI members should approach Union/ State Governments and other employing agencies to form Grievances Committees, which should include representatives of various cadres of nurses and employees in each hospital, block, or district. These Committees should solve all local problems, personal or professional, wherever possible.
(b) A State level committee, including a TNAI representative, should be formed to act as arbitrator in cases referred to by the local Grievances Committee.
(c) TNAI members should encourage and assist the organization and work of State Government Nurses’ Service Associations which will be recognized as negotiating bodies by the employers. A Nurse must be an active member of both TNAI and State Government Nurses’ Association. As TNAI members, Nurses may obtain information, assistance, advice and moral support from other States and the national TNA for the Governments Nurses’ Association.
(d) This is an essential to prevent Nurses from joining other unions.
(e) Where the State Government Nurses’ organizations already exist, the TNAI should initiate dialogue with them, assure them of cooperation and assistance whenever their objectives are in line with those of the TNAI and create opportunities for joint activities and action through local and State Executive Committees.
(f) Where any organization is frankly anti-TNAI every effort should be made to clarify the reasons and misunderstandings which exist. If this fails and any TNAI member, who is an officer of the other organization and yet is obviously working against the TNAI, steps should be taken to suspend the member from the TNAI by the State Executive with the approval of the national TNAI Council.
(g) The State Governments Nurses’ Association and State Branch, TNAI, should agree that as a last resort where the issue involves the welfare of the members of the profession as a whole, or the improvement of Nursing services to the community, the TNAI members may support a strike action under the following conditions:
Conditions under which a strike by Nurses may be approved or even carried out by TNAI Branches or local groups:
1. Where grievances exist, they should be thoroughly investigated by the Government Nurses’ Association and reported to the local or State TNAI Executive.
2. The State Branch Executive, TNAI, should also know all the facts regarding the situation and be satisfied that justice requires some action.
3. All possible approaches through legal efforts should be made to the authorities for correction of the situation.
4. If no action is taken by the authorities despite all efforts, the situation should be put before the members of the government Nurses’ Association for vote regarding strike.
5. At least two months’ warning should be given before the date set for the strike.
6. During the two months’ period the following actions should be carried out:
(a) Efforts to persuade the authorities should continue.
(b) The public should be informed through the Press, etc:
i) About the grievances of the Nurses stressing the ultimate effect on the care of the patients and the public;
ii) The efforts already made;
iii) Assuring the public that in the event of the strike arrangement will be made to provide Nursing care for all seriously ill patients and emergency cases;
iv) Asking for support from the press and public.
(c) Plans should be made by the Government Nurses’ Associations and TNAI for the methods to be used in carrying out the strike, informing all members on what their action and behavior should be as professional people.
(d) The plan for providing emergency Nursing care should be carefully made and published.
7. It must be clearly understood that the TNAI and its members will not support any strike controlled or voted by any union, or organization which includes employees other than Nurses. It must be planned, voted, and carried out with the above stipulations in a dignified manner and with the assurance that the public understands and will support the Nurses’ demands and that the Nurses will make every effort to prevent harm to patients which might be caused by the strike.
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