Workplace Report April 2019

European news

Mediation in Swedish healthcare pay dispute 


Mediators have been appointed in an attempt to reach agreement on pay increases for around 90,000 people employed in the Swedish health care system. 


Negotiations between the union Vårdförbundet, which represents nurses, midwives, biomedical scientists and radiographers, and the employers began in January, before the previous agreement expired on 31 March.


However, with the two sides still far apart, they agreed to ask for mediation on 9 April. 


The union is looking for pay increases, particularly for skilled employees and it argues that low pay is leading to staff shortages.