Healthcare workers in front of the KS Government: We are not seeking an increase in coefficients but a correction of hourly rates

(Patria) - Healthcare workers gathered in front of the KS Government building, carrying banners with messages to the authorities: "The future belongs to the young", "Specializations for young doctors", "In healthcare, minutes matter, and hourly rates are miserable"...

The protests followed months of unsuccessful negotiations with the KS Government's Negotiation Team regarding salary increases.

Elvedin Vatreš, president of the KS Nurses and Technicians Union, stated at the protests that they expected the relevant Ministry of Health and the Government to "have ears and reason" until this morning's press conference by the KS Government.

"The Prime Minister was literally misled. His entire statement referred to something we did not even ask for. From December until today, our Prime Minister (Nihad Uk), the person with whom we are supposed to sign this collective agreement, is not at all aware of our demands. Our demands are not about coefficients, not about changing the collective agreement, but only about aligning with the hourly rates, that is, the current situation of rising prices, simply put. The Prime Minister himself, in any European country, when observing price increases, proposes, not only to healthcare workers but also to other public sector employees, an increase in hourly rates to improve the standard of living for all citizens," said Vatreš.

Dženana Hrustemović, president of the KCUS Union, stated that the KCUS Union fully supports this protest.

"We are also a federal institution, but at this moment, we support all our colleagues who are involved in this protest and who are seeking their rights," said Hrustemović.

Izet Hočko, president of the KS Doctors and Dentists Union, stated during his address, among other things, that they are facing obstruction from some directors of healthcare institutions who scheduled meetings at the time when employees, union members, were supposed to attend these protests.

Healthcare workers have only one demand, which is to increase the net hourly rate from the current 2.76 KM to 3.28 KM.

The KS Government stated today that the current collective agreement is valid until the end of April next year and that at this moment there is no reason to start a new procedure for increasing coefficients six or even nine months after the talks began.

The Union states that they are not seeking a correction of coefficients but a net hourly rate at the KS level for healthcare workers from the current 2.76 KM to 3.28 KM.