Poll: Narrow majority approve of municipal wage offer to nurses

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Slightly over half of Finns feel that the pay increase offered by municipal employers to nurses working in public hospital and clinics is sufficient.
      A poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup found that 54 per cent felt that the pay offer is appropriate, while four out of five felt that it was too low; only five per cent felt that it was too generous.
     
Women were more likely to feel that the increase is insufficient; 43 per cent of women felt that the offer was too low while 34 per cent of men felt the same way.
      Supporters of the Left Alliance and Centre generally felt that the offer was sufficient. Supporters of the Social Democratic Party and the Green League were the most critical.
      The respondents were also asked if they felt that the so-called equality bonus was high enough to help rectify the low pay level of the nursing profession. Nurses unions have calculated that the bonus would bring nearly EUR 50 a month in shoring up the gap. Nearly six out of ten felt that the sum was inadequate, and just under four in ten felt that it was sufficient.
     
Women again were less satisfied than men, with 61 per cent of women respondents saying that the sum was inadequate, while just 35 per cent felt that it was good enough. Among men, 40 per cent felt that EUR 50 was enough, while 54 per cent felt that it was not.
      Supporters of the Left Alliance were the most likely to consider the equality bonus to be inadequate, while supporters of the Centre Party were the most satisfied.
      About half were pleased with the extra EUR 150 million promised by the government for funding of nurses' pay hikes. Four out of ten felt that it was not enough, and just four per cent felt that it was excessive.
     
The least satisfied with the governments' input were supporters of the Left Alliance, nearly half of whom felt that the sum was too small. Nearly half of supporters of the Social Democratic Party felt that the sum was inadequate.
      Only about one third of supporters of the government parties, the Centre Party, the National Coalition Party, and the Greens felt that the sum was too small, and nearly 60 per cent felt that it was adequate.
     
The survey involved telephone interviews with 503 people conducted between September 24th and 26th.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Union of Practical Nurses accepts municipal pay deal (28.9.2007)
  COMMENTARY: Companies entering wage talks to pay for Katainen gaffe (25.9.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat