Railway Workers May Support Doctors' Strike
Published: 26.09.2012 09:27
Photo: Postimees/Scanpix
In an echo of the widespread solidarity with teachers' strikes seen in the spring, the railway workers union is considering holding a support strike concurrently with the health care workers action next week.
Chairman of the union Oleg Tšubarov called for the entire health care system in Estonia to be reviewed, and said patients would have most to gain if the flow of doctors and nurses to other countries were stanched.
The Health Insurance Fund decided last week that doctors' pay could be increased by 3 percent and that of nurses, by 6 percent - not enough to placate medical professionals who will strike starting October 1.
Doctors are calling for a 20 percent raise and nurses, 40 percent.