Hospital concerned about the bus strike; Fears Infection Increases – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Bergen is one of the cities affected by the escalation of the strike, and that worries the management of the Haukeland University Hospital.

Bergen was recently exposed to an infection outbreak and had to implement strict measures to control the infection.

– Of course we are concerned about the combination of covid-19 and infection, and the lack of bus transportation in our area, says CEO E claim Hansen.

Many will have to find other ways to get to and from the hospital across the country, and Hansen is excited to find out if patients will show up on schedule and if employees go to work.

– We hope that we will solve it in the best possible way, without there being a danger to health or the like, he tells NRK and emphasizes that a strike is a legal tool.

– Walk or ride a bike

The Bergen hospital management now encourages employees and patients to walk or bike if they can. Until now, there have been no situations in which there has been danger to life and health.

However, trains, trams, subways, light rail and high-speed boats have not been affected by the strike, and Hansen fears it could be crowded on Bergen’s light rail.

– You can get close to the light rail and then you need to wear a mask. You may have to wait for the next exit, so that the traffic is distributed as much as possible, he advises.

A week after the bus drivers in Oslo and Viken went on strike, there has been no contact between the parties. Norway’s bus strike intensified on Saturday, when another 4,500 bus drivers in seven counties went on strike.

Large parts of public transport in Norway are now affected, and on Monday morning the strike will affect people who take buses to work and school across the country. (check which counties are affected in the data box below).

– Give some challenges

The Norwegian Nurses Association has already received inquiries from members who will have trouble going to work. This is what the deputy director of the association, Kai Øyvind Brenden says.

– It gives some challenges to get to and from work, so our encouragement is of course that employers also contribute flexibility and creativity, so that health personnel and other critical personnel arrive and return from work in a situation of strike, he says.

A total of around 8,500 drivers were eliminated in the bus strike, which began on Sunday 20 September when the mediation between NHO Transport and Spekter by employers, and Yrkestrafikkforbundet, Fellesforbundet, Jernbaneforbundet and Fagforbundet by the employers, was interrupted. employees.

So far, there is little indication that the strike will be resolved immediately.

NHO Transport tells NRK that there are no plans to call the other party, while Fellesforbundet leader Jørn Eggum, for his part, is waiting for a phone call.

– The situation is that we have not yet contacted NHO Transport. Whether it will happen quickly or whether it will take longer, I don’t know, says Eggum.

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The working day of a bus driver can be 12 hours and consist of two shifts.