Swedish nurses begin strike (Roundup)

Apr 21, 2008, 14:44 GMT

Stockholm - Hundreds of Swedish nurses went on strike Monday for higher wages after a government-appointed mediator gave up efforts to broker a deal over the weekend.

The Swedish Association of Health Professionals had listed some 3,500 nurses countrywide to take part in the labour action that began at noon (1000 GMT), marking the first major strike in the sector for over a decade.

The union has introduced rolling strikes affecting only one accident and and emergency department at a time in the three main cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo in order to reduce the threat against patients.

However, five of nine counties impacted by the strike have asked a special panel to rule if the industrial action constituted a threat to patients, and nurses were to remain on the job pending a ruling from the panel.

Some 1,000 nurses including many that work at x-ray and radiological departments were still working, pending a decision by the panel, media reports said.

Swedish radio reported that scores of patients have already been notified that scheduled operations were postponed.

The first major accident and emergency department impacted Monday in Stockholm was at St Goran's hospital, Sweden's fourth largest emergency hospital with some 200 patients per day.

The last major labour action in the Swedish health sector was in 1995.

In a related development, health workers, including nurses continued their industrial action in neighbouring Denmark. The confederation went on strike Wednesday after a state mediator failed to bridge the gap between the unions that want a 15-per-cent pay hike and employers offering 12.5 per cent.