Stockholm - Hundreds of Swedish nurses went on strike Monday
for higher wages after a government-appointed mediator gave up
efforts to broker a deal over the weekend.
The Swedish Association of Health Professionals had listed some
3,500 nurses countrywide to take part in the labour action that began
at noon (1000 GMT), marking the first major strike in the sector for
over a decade.
The union has introduced rolling strikes affecting only one
accident and and emergency department at a time in the three main
cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo in order to reduce the threat
against patients.
However, five of nine counties impacted by the strike have asked a
special panel to rule if the industrial action constituted a threat
to patients, and nurses were to remain on the job pending a ruling
from the panel.
Some 1,000 nurses including many that work at x-ray and
radiological departments were still working, pending a decision by
the panel, media reports said.
Swedish radio reported that scores of patients have already been
notified that scheduled operations were postponed.
The first major accident and emergency department impacted Monday
in Stockholm was at St Goran's hospital, Sweden's fourth largest
emergency hospital with some 200 patients per day.
The last major labour action in the Swedish health sector was in
1995.
In a related development, health workers, including nurses
continued their industrial action in neighbouring Denmark. The
confederation went on strike Wednesday after a state mediator failed
to bridge the gap between the unions that want a 15-per-cent pay hike
and employers offering 12.5 per cent.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story