The board of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) announced on Monday that it would continue plans to pay special fees for nurses.
The move will take place on the HUS Acting Days. after the CEO Markku Mäkijärvi reported that the hospital district is delaying the distribution of bonuses.
Risto RautavaIn an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday, the chairman of HUS’s board confirmed the district’s decision to cancel the bonuses.
The decision was heavily criticized, especially by nurses and healthcare unions.
Rautava told Yle on Monday that the government has changed lines and will pay bonuses to nurses, as previously agreed.
"The Board of Directors of HUS made an overall assessment. We came to the conclusion that since the heads of certain departments have already promised bonuses to employees and some had already been paid, it would not be fair to overturn the decision." he said.
Nurses in these wards – the head and neck center, the heart and lung center and the abdominal center – had been promised bonuses for coping with the severe overcrowding caused by staff shortages during November-February. The fees are 200-300 euros per month per employee.
The decision to award the prizes was made by the heads of the departments. The staff had been notified of the additional salaries, and some had already received the money.
Mäkijärvi had said that it was unfair for nurses working in certain wards to receive bonuses when other employees were not offered the same contract.
The board of HUS also stated on Monday that there is an urgent need to improve its personnel management and administration in the hospital district.
HUS faces a counterattack
The hospital district’s decision to cancel the bonuses sparked a stir on social media, and unions condemned the move.
Social and Health Association – Tehy said in a Tweet on Sunday that he intends to investigate the legality of the decision if HUS approves the withdrawal of fees.
The union also sent a letter to the HUS administration requesting that the decision be annulled.
"We believe that nurses are already outraged by the threat of giving up extra pay. Confidence in the employer is crumbling," a letter signed by the director of Tehyn Else-Mai Kirvesniemi, said the Democrat.
Silja PaavolaThe chairman of the SuPer Association of Nurses said it would be outrageous and dangerous to withdraw the bonuses already promised.
"This is not a reason to cancel anything, but rather a reason to pay people higher wages to attract more workers to the sector," In Yle’s morning program, Paavola stated on Yle’s morning on Monday how the extra workload in healthcare has already led to the cancellation of several surgeries.
In an interview with Prime Minister Yle on Sunday Sanna Marin urged hospital districts to prevent staff shortages by providing adequate compensation and bonuses, especially at Christmas time.
He stressed that the state is responsible for all measures aimed at managing the Covid-19 crisis, which include additional compensation for health care workers.
Source: The Nordic Page