‘Path to agreement’ could block hospital strikes

By Andria Kades and Jonathan Shkurko

In what appears to be a path towards agreement, the state health services (Okypy) and trade unions representing public hospital workers made progress on the issue of understaffing in public hospitals, Health Minister Michalis Damianos said on Tuesday after meeting union members.

Damianos said further developments on the matter “are expected within the next ten days.”

He said the discussions were “very constructive” and explained that it was an informative meeting regarding various pending issues, including those related to collective agreements.

Regarding the content of the meeting and the process to be followed, the minister explained that he was provided with an update on the status of Okypy and the trade unions regarding collective agreements and where the differences lie.

Earlier in the day, trade union Peo union issued a stark warning to Okypy threatening to take ‘dynamic measures’ due to the severe understaffing in public hospitals.

In a statement, it charged “Okypy’s inexplicable delaying to discuss the burning issue of adequate staffing of public hospitals.”

It charged Okypy’s study for its staffing needs is “comical” and that every delay in hiring more staff meant more work for those already employed.

Peo warned that efforts to engage in dialogue that could lead to a deal has been met with “scorn and indifference” from Okypy’s management.

The development comes as a new building for haemodialysis has been announced, without hiring more staff, Peo underscored.