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The first wave of corona is still in the bones of healthcare workers. The applause has died down. Instead of the required better working conditions, a crown bonus or more recognition, Swiss healthcare workers slip straight into the second wave.
Now workers take to the streets: For this week, from October 26 to 30, the unions, including Unia, SYNA and VPOD, have launched protests together with the professional association of nursing professionals. Health professionals want to use this to draw attention to their concerns.
“The second wave is causing great tension at the moment, the staff are tired and still challenged to the maximum,” says Yvonne Ribi. She is the CEO of the Swiss Professional Nurses and Specialists Association (SBK).
Too understaffed and too tired
There was hardly time to recover from the first wave. “The pandemic was ubiquitous in all health facilities during the summer as well, we had no breaks,” says Ribi. As was the case before the pandemic, there is still a shortage of staff in hospitals, psychiatric clinics, Spitex or nursing and rehabilitation centers. “To make matters worse, many quit their jobs,” says SBK’s managing director.
Also, one is frustrated by political inaction. “After the first wave, all the demands of the health and nursing staff were on the table. We expected more action from politics, ”says Ribi. So now you need a week of protest. “We want society to see that nothing has improved in the health sector and that it is not foreseeable that there will be any action in the field of working conditions or economic recognition,” said Ribi.
One billion planned for training
The president of the National Council’s Health Commission, Ruth Humbel (CVP), defends herself against this accusation. “Politicians have long recognized and embraced care concerns,” Humbel said. A counterproposal to SBK’s care initiative is currently before parliament. For example, it intends to launch a training offensive, according to which the federal government and the cantons together will invest up to 1 billion francs in training nurses within eight years.
Humbel assumes that the proposal can be approved in the winter session. “The SBK completely hides improvements like this one,” said the CVP National Counselor.
Therefore, Humbel also criticizes the week of protests. “Why should nurses who have secure jobs and whose problems are recognized protest?” There are many other industries, such as hairdressers or service employees, that have existential fears, says the president of the Health Commission. “I find the week of protests by healthcare workers almost cynical for these industries.”
Money alone is not enough
Humbel understands, in principle, the demands of health and nursing staff. It is also clear to her that the nursing profession is growing stronger and financial rewards are being awarded. The latter should also apply to others: “Cleaning staff, canteen employees, generally people who have to work with Covid-19 patients, deserve a bonus,” says Humbel.
For SBK’s Yvonne Ribi, financial momentum and training offense are not enough. It is important that better framework conditions are created and that labor companies adjust staffing levels upwards, said Ribi.
Planned actions
The actions are planned as part of the protest week, for example, a “Walk of attention” in Lucerne, Zug and the two Basles. The reasons, however, depend on the Federal Council on whether it will impose stricter measures next Wednesday, Ribi says. At best, the week of action for health workers would move from the streets to the Internet.
