The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland (Tehy) and the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (SuPer) have announced a four-day strike in Helsinki’s southern home care 20–23 September.
The industrial dispute is unusual as it targets home care service, which has very vulnerable customers. In the past, the organisations have excluded the work necessary to protect life and health from strikes. Now, the organisations have decided that no such protection work is available.
In order to protect the life and health of home care customers, the City of Helsinki submitted an application for precautionary measures to the Helsinki District Court on 16 September. The city demanded that the district court prohibits the organisations from starting the strike.
On 19 September, the Helsinki District Court approved the City's petition and prohibited the initiation of the strike under threat of a fine. The City Is now waiting for a decision from the organisations about whether they will cancel the strike.
The southern home care unit operates in Lauttasaari, Töölö, Viiskulma and Vironniemi. There are over 800 customers in the area, nearly 350 of whom need essential services on a daily basis (1–4 home visits per day).
“We will contact the customers whose services will be affected by the strike. Together with the customers and their loved ones, we will plan how to secure essential services during the strike. We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our customers if the strike takes place,” says Helena Venetvaara, Director of Nursing, Southern Service District.
If the strike starts, we will update this news item every afternoon from 19 to 23 September.
Updated 20.9.2022 at 13: Information about the
District Court's decision added
Photo: Virpi Velin