On Wednesday, there was a reconciliation meeting, but no agreement was reached. Social Minister Karmen Joller was unable to meet with the healthcare workers' unions. The Health Insurance Fund's budget does not provide for wage increases for healthcare workers.
The doctors' and nurses' unions said that the state is not in favor of the collective agreement. However, without state funding, an agreement cannot be reached. The involvement of the Social Minister is crucial, according to the unions. Previous ministers have found solutions together with the unions.
The collective agreement affects over 20,000 healthcare workers. These include nurses, caregivers, doctors, and other medical specialists. Currently, there is a significant labor shortage in medicine. If wages are frozen, the shortage could increase further.
Healthcare workers do important work even during crises and wars. Therefore, their motivation is crucial. Currently, one-fifth of healthcare workers hold multiple positions to earn more.
The president of the Nurses' Union, Kätlin Lillemaa, said that nurses and caregivers deserve fair wages. They work nights and weekends. If overburdened workers leave, the healthcare system could collapse.
The president of the Estonian Healthcare Workers' Professional Union, Ulvi Tasane, said that wage increases have reduced the emigration of nurses. However, there is now a risk that workers will start moving to other countries again.
The president of the Medical Students' Society, Klaus Martin Klettenberg, said that rejecting wage increases harms the future of doctors. The healthcare workers' unions are concerned about the state of healthcare.
The president of the Doctors' Union, Neeme Tönisson, said that healthcare needs peace and stability. The minister's actions have not been in the interests of patients or healthcare workers.
The appeal was signed by the Nurses' Union, the Healthcare Workers' Professional Union, the Doctors' Union, and other professional unions.