The postponement of the two-day strike in the emergency medical services sector was prompted by a request from HUS Chief Physician Markku Kuisma to National Conciliator Anu Sajavaara to postpone the strike. Moving the strike away from the days of heavy snowfall, Wednesday and Thursday, would, according to Kuisma, safeguard emergency medical services and “critical basic services for society”.
Kuisma wrote to the National Conciliator that “the first heavy snowfall each winter always causes traffic chaos, significantly slowing down emergency medical services.” Heavy snowfall also causes road accidents and a large number of falls. “Therefore, emergency medical services must have all possible resources at their disposal on Wednesday and Thursday,” Kuisma wrote.
Tehy accepts HUS’s request, since Tehy prioritises the protection of the health and life of citizens over industrial action.
Tehy has demanded that, as a result of the postponement, the National Conciliator must immediately resume the previously suspended mediation of the labour dispute. Tehy President Millariikka Rytkönen points out that employers must also act responsibly towards their employees.
– Paramedics carry out vital work, and at the moment employers are offering zero per cent pay increases in return. We demand that the National Conciliator’s Office and the employer side also act responsibly and stop pushing for the zero line. The paramedics have earned their raises, says Millariikka Rytkönen.
If no progress is made in the mediation, the postponed strikes will have to be carried out later. In this case, HUS and employers must prepare better to ensure that emergency medical services, which are a fundamental right of citizens, can be guaranteed despite the strikes. Heavy snowfall is not an unforeseeable phenomenon, but part of Finnish winter.
The strike was to affect Med Group Ensihoitopalvelu Oy’s locations in Pirkanmaa and EMA Finland Oy’s locations in Uusimaa.
Enquiries:
Negotiations Manager Vappu Okkeri, tel. +358 400 913 230, [email protected]