Polish nurses go on hunger strike to protest new work contracts

Polish nurses go on hunger strike to protest new work contracts

2011-03-23 00:04:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

WARSAW, POLAND (BNO NEWS) -- Five Polish nurses on Tuesday began a hunger strike to protest new laws that allow hospitals greater freedom in farming out work to part-time employees, after staging a sit-in protest in the gallery of the main hall of Poland’s Parliament for the past six days.

About a hundred nurses gathered to picket in support of the strike in a demonstration organized by the Union of Nurses and Midwives in front of the Parliament buildings in Warsaw, TheNews.pl reported.

The nurses are protesting a new draft law on medical services passed by parliament last Friday, which introduces labour contracts for staff instead of permanent forms of employment. The Union says the contracts lead to exploitation of nurses who have fewer rights and longer working hours, which could lead to worsening health care standards.

The remaining nurses say they will continue their occupation of the gallery.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-23