【Anchor Comment】
As the Nursing Act is about to be passed in the plenary session, today is also a critical day for negotiations between the Health and Medical Labor Union and hospitals. If the negotiations fail, it is inevitable that nurses will go on a total strike, leading to confusion in the medical field. The Korean Medical Association opposed by stating that if the Nursing Act is not stopped as a way to appease the union, they will cease all medical services. This is reporter No Tae-hyun.
【Reporter】
The Health and Medical Labor Union, which includes nurses and medical technicians, has announced a total strike at 61 hospitals nationwide. They are currently negotiating with hospitals on issues such as wage increases, increasing staffing, and resolving indirect employment issues, but if the negotiations fail, they will proceed with a total strike from tomorrow onwards. Yesterday, seven hospitals, including the National Medical Center, were involved, and today, dozens of local medical centers are scheduled for negotiations simultaneously. The government held an emergency meeting to discourage the strike.
▶ Interview: Han Deok-su / Prime Minister (yesterday)
– “I understand your difficulties very well and believe that they must be improved. However, I cannot agree with extreme actions like strikes.”
The union’s position is that the Nursing Act and strikes are separate issues. The Korean Medical Association, opposing the enactment of the Nursing Act, also threatened to stop medical services.
▶ Interview: Lim Hyun-taek / President of the Korean Medical Association
– “If the government once again bows to the demands of the Health and Medical Labor Union, it will face a fierce resistance and struggle from 140,000 doctors.”
The Health and Medical Labor Union, where nurses make up 70%, held a total strike for two days last year. If they proceed with an actual strike excluding essential personnel in emergency rooms, operating rooms, neonatal units, etc., it is forecasted that confusion in the medical field will be inevitable.
This is MBN News, No Tae-hyun.
Video Recording: Shin Sung-ho VJ
Video Editing: Yoo Soo-jin