Demonstrations have taken place across the country to mark Thursday’s “Day of Nursing”. In Vienna – according to the organizers – around 10,000 people took part in such a “health offensive”. The demonstrators found clear words in the direction of Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens).
“Save yourself words of gratitude and appreciation for the employees on the day of care. We only want to see action!”, it said. The “Health Offensive”, which invited to the demo in Vienna, is an association of the trade unions vida, GÖD, gpa, younion, the Vienna Medical Association, the Chamber of Labor and the ÖGB. With the rally, which, as the offensive emphasized, was just one of many this Thursday, one wants to draw attention to grievances in the health and care sector.
More than 70,000 signatures under the joint parliamentary citizens’ initiative “Attention Health” would show how much action is needed here, said Reinhard Waldhoer, chairman of the GÖD health union. He had sharp words towards the Minister of Health: “The Minister of Health must feel that there can be no more delays when it comes to health and care! Action is finally needed instead of unctuous words!”.
Reform no more than a “treat”?
These acts then followed. It was no coincidence that the first step in the care reform was decided on “Care Day”. The representatives of the “health offensive” saw the result as largely positive, but implementation was important, said Barbara Teiber, chairwoman of the GPA trade union, in the run-up to the demonstration. The first step in terms of care reform is the result of years of union pressure.
Some demonstrators saw the timing of the package of measures announced today by the government as anything but coincidental. It was “a treat” and an attempt to “put the topic out of the way” of the demonstrators. In the video we have summarized the cornerstones of the new care reform:
The first demo train started at 3 p.m. at Wien Mitte and moved through the city from there. The final rally then took place in the Sigmund Freud Park in front of the Votive Church. After the closing rally, the demonstration ended with a concert by the band Russkaja. In addition to higher wages, some posters called for a 30- or 35-hour week. In addition, care should fall under the heavy labor regulation.
“Headings must not remain headings”
“The nurse is an intensive care patient, who was given the prospect of being transferred to the normal ward today by the federal government. Unfortunately, a release is not yet in,” comments ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian. The package presented by the government is “two or three small steps in the right direction,” said AK Vienna President Renate Anderl. The Chamber of Labor will ensure that “the headings do not remain headings”.
Roman Hebenstreit, chairman of the vida trade union, also joins the list of critics: “Whatever the cost, that’s what they said about economic aid. Billions were spent without batting an eyelid. The promised investments in the economy are now finally needed health and care sector.”
“Just a drop in the bucket”
The 600 euros announced today for trainees are “nice, but a drop in the ocean,” said a representative of the trainees in the care sector. Apprentices have been under massive pressure in recent years, have been involved in fighting the pandemic from the start and some of them are not even familiar with the normal day-to-day life of the ward.
A nurse said at the final rally that the forthcoming generational change would be successful. As before, students would become “emergency nails” in the summer and replace nurses.
The organizers also announced further demonstrations for the future. It is important to fight for better working conditions “365 days a year, and not just on the day of care”.
Demonstration also in Linz
In addition to Vienna, demonstrations were also held in Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Graz. In the Tyrolean capital, the police assumed around 1,300 participants. Noisy and armed with numerous signs, the demonstration marched from the train station early Thursday afternoon to the clinic, where a larger group of nursing staff joined, and then on to Landhausplatz.
There, Tyrol’s ÖGB chairman Philip Wohlgemuth called for speed with the proposed measures as part of the final rally by Social Affairs Minister Rauch. The protesters insisted on signs and banners for more wages, free time and staff, and pointed out that the nursing shortage was “curable”. “We are on the verge of a collapse in our healthcare system!” Gerhard Seier, chairman of the Public Service Union (GÖD), also urged us to act quickly.
Source: Nachrichten
