Christian Dorer, editor-in-chief of the Blick Group
According to a first SRG trend survey, 78 percent say yes to the care initiative, only 15 percent are against, 7 percent are still undecided. The cause finds support in all political camps: mostly from Greens and SP voters, least from those of the FDP – and 58 percent of them are in favor of it.
The yes share is likely to shrink by November 28th. But the initiative has great opportunities. And that’s good. Your assumption would be correct, important and urgently needed!
Because the carers are chronically overworked, exhausted, frustrated. Too few are trained, too many leave the profession at a young age. There are currently more than 10,000 vacancies.
On March 20, 2020 at 12.30 p.m., all of Switzerland applauded the nursing staff and said thank you for their self-sacrificing commitment to the corona pandemic. But then not much happened. On the contrary, the Federal Council and Parliament reject the care initiative. Bern argues primarily bureaucratically: When it comes to wages and working conditions, you don’t need a federal solution, but many cantonal ones. Or: The staff of homes, hospitals and nursing services should not have “a special position in the constitution”.
In order to strengthen the rejection front, the Federal Council and Parliament are luring with a billion francs, which would be immediately available for training if the vote was no. If you answered yes, however, there was a risk of years of dispute about the implementation and a highly uncertain outcome …
Voters should not let this deter them. The nurses reject the counter-proposal and fight for the initiative. We should listen to them. Your three most important arguments:
- A training offensive worth billions will fizzle out if half of the workforce continues to quit their jobs after a short period of time.
- The initiative ensures that working conditions are more humane and duty rosters more reliable, and it also improves the compatibility of work and family. Above all, however, their acceptance ensures that sufficient staff is available.
- In future, a certain ratio should be established between the number of patients and that of nurses. This reduces the risk of complications and even death.
Last but not least, the initiative requires appropriate remuneration for care services. This request by the staff is legitimate. His work is physically difficult and psychologically stressful. The initiative is primarily about working conditions, sufficient staff and the well-being of patients.
The initiative is credible on all of these points. It would be a slap in the face of all nurses if their demands for better working conditions were thrown out in the middle of the biggest health crisis.
Unfortunately, each of us was or will be a patient at some point in life. It goes without saying that we expect the best care in any case. Sufficiently well-trained, motivated, decently paid nurses are therefore in the interests of every individual.