Swedish emergency rooms crippled as nurses’ strike spreads
Swedish hospitals and emergency wards are struggling to stay open as nearly 4,400 more health workers went out on strike in support of nurses who have already stopped work, their union said.
That brings the total to more than 7,000 health care professionals now on strike across the country, according to Vaardfoerbundet, the Swedish Association of Health Professionals.
Their spokeswoman said the effect of the additional nurses, biomedics and x-ray technicians joining the two-week-old strike was being felt in hospitals, emergency wards, blood banks and medical centres.
Nurses are demanding a minimum wage of 22,000 kronor (€2,340) a month and an average monthly wage rise of around seven per cent.
No compromise is in sight, but the parties have agreed to return to the negotiating table.