The Controversial Standoff Between Nurses and Employers
Labor Disputes|According to the Nurses’ Association, national mediator Anu Sajavaara is aggressively pushing for a zero pay raise for paramedics in collaboration with employers.
The Clash of Perspectives
The Finnish Nurses’ Association Tehy criticized national mediator Anu Sajavaara in a statement for her handling of the labor dispute in the private emergency medical services sector.
Tehy’s chairperson Millariikka Rytkönen accused the employer and mediator of aggressively advocating for a complete zero pay raise for paramedics.
Sajavaara declined to comment on Rytkönen’s remarks, and attempts to reach Rytkönen for further comment were unsuccessful.
The Impending Strike
As no agreement has been reached, the strike announced by Tehy will take place in Med Group Emergency Medical Service facilities in the Pirkanmaa region and EMA Finland’s facilities in the Uusimaa region on Wednesday and Thursday.
These companies provide emergency medical services to the public sector, including urgent care and hospital transport, as well as non-urgent hospital transport services directly to customers.
The Employer’s Perspective
Kati Virtanen, the labor market director for Halin, representing the employers, stated that the main point of contention between the parties primarily revolves around this year’s salary increases.
Virtanen emphasized that while there is no zero-line offer for next year, there is already substantial agreement between Halin and Tehy regarding next year’s increases.
The Road Ahead
In 2022, the parties agreed to establish a working group to determine how to align the private emergency medical services sector’s salaries with those of welfare regions by 2029.
However, subsequent agreements in 2022 regarding social and wage harmonization in welfare regions have raised emergency medical workers’ salaries to a level that the employers view as challenging to bridge under the current circumstances.
Looking to the Future
Virtanen stressed the importance of ensuring some form of salary development for everyone in the private emergency medical services sector, but increasingly, agreements on raises should be made locally. She described the industry’s situation as challenging, with the number of employees decreasing from over 3,000 to around 700.
“While we are committed to developing the salary system, the next steps in this work are becoming clear. However, a collective agreement is needed first,” Virtanen added.
Conclusion
The standoff between nurses and employers regarding pay raises for paramedics highlights the complex dynamics of labor negotiations in the healthcare sector. With both sides holding firm on their positions, the impending strike underscores the urgency to find a resolution that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.
FAQ
What is the main point of contention in the labor dispute?
The main point of contention revolves around this year’s salary increases for paramedics in the private emergency medical services sector.
How are parties working towards aligning salaries in the future?
In 2022, the parties agreed to establish a working group to determine how to align the private emergency medical services sector’s salaries with those of welfare regions by 2029.