(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in Finland support a bill that would compel nurses to work even after they resign, according to a poll by Taylor Nelson Sofres released by MTV3 and Helsingin Uutiset. 56 per cent of respondents are in favour of the bill, while 35 per cent oppose it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of people in Finland support a bill that would compel nurses to work even after they resign, according to a poll by Taylor Nelson Sofres released by MTV3 and Helsingin Uutiset. 56 per cent of respondents are in favour of the bill, while 35 per cent oppose it.
Earlier this month, the Finnish government proposed an emergency bill called the "patient safety bill" that would grant the government the authority to force nurses to keep on working even after they have tendered their resignation. The proposal comes as close to 13,000 unionized nurses have threatened to resign en masse on Nov. 19 if the government fails to meet their demands for a 24 per cent wage increase over two years.
The nurses have justified their decision, saying it is easy for the government to ignore their demands because it is allowed by law to force nurses back to work even if they go on strike. The government has said the new piece of legislation is necessary to protect patients in the country’s state-owned medical facilities.
On Nov. 14, Marja-Karina Koskinen, a leader of the nurses union, said that forcing someone who has resigned back to work represents a backward trend in labour relations in Finland, adding, "How can we be a member of the European Union? They say they cannot have Turkey as a member due to human rights concerns, but I tell you right now we are on the same level as Turkey in terms of human rights."
Yesterday, Finnish lawmakers passed the "patient safety bill" in a 113-68 vote.
Matti Vanhanen of the Finnish Centre Party (KESK) has been Finland’s prime minister since June 2003, after the resignation of Anneli Jaatteenmaki. In April, Vanhanen formed a coalition government encompassing the KESK, the conservative National Rally (KOK), the Swedish People’s Party (RKP) and the Green League (VIHR). The four political organizations hold 125 seats in the 200-member Diet.
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the patient safety bill?
|
Support |
56% |
|
Oppose |
35% |
|
Not sure |
9% |
Source: Taylor Nelson Sofres / MTV3 / Helsingin Uutiset
Methodology: Interviews with 1,100 adult Finns, conducted from Nov. 9 to Nov. 13, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
