Health Care Workers' Strike Ends in Estonia
The health care workers' unions have said they will end their strike on Friday, October 26, after signing a memorandum of understanding on the most important conditions of a new collective agreement with the Hospitals Association.
"The strike has ended," Andres Kork, president of the Medical Association, told ETV. He said the unions achieved the most important demands on their agenda in the stoppage, which started on October 1.
Beginning next year, resident physicians will get paid for the full 40 hours per week, rather than the current 32 hours. Doctors and nurses' workloads will be reduced in outpatient care by 20 percent and inpatient care by 16 percent. In March 2013, minimum wages will rise by 23 percent for caregivers, 17.5 percent for nurses and 11 percent for doctors (to 2.6 euros, 4.5 euros, and 8 euros per hour, respectively).
The additional funds will come from the Health Insurance Fund and the state budget. Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur, who heads the Health Insurance Fund's superisory board, presided over the signing.