The Finnish government is proposing special legislation to secure patient safety during threatened industrial action by nurses affiliated with the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals, or Tehy. Under the proposal, health care professionals could be ordered to work regardless of whether or not they have resigned, are not working for other reasons, or working somewhere else. The aim of the proposed legislation is to head off the worst possible effects of a mass resignation campaign, which is to take effect on November 19. Tehy Chair Jaana Laitinen-Pesola says that the labour dispute will not end through legislation, but rather through money.
The law would also make it possible to bring recently retired health care back to work. Those refusing an order to work would be subject to a fine.
The proposed temporary law would allow deviation from ordinary working hours and from rules on the maximum for overtime.
It is estimated that the coerced return to work would could apply to between 10 and 20 percent of those taking part in the industrial action. Those compelled to work during a labour dispute would be entitled to 1.3 times more pay than usual.
The aim of the bill is to secure the lives and security of patients in if the action begins. The government hopes to win passage by Friday next week so that the law might take effect by the following Monday. The largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, is taking a negative view of the proposal.