During the pandemic, a medical union led by Valdis Kera stood out with its peculiar actions. During the emergency, it convened a face-to-face congress. 74 delegates from all over Latvia should attend. Several delegates opposed the management plans. And he wrote that now every doctor is important and that gathering threatens the health of him and others. As the infection spreads, it would be irresponsible to support such measures. However, the management of the trade union did not listen to them, reports the program “Nothing personal”.
The health and social care workers’ union is the largest in its industry. It represents more than 10 thousand members from all over Latvia. Basically, the association is fighting for the salaries of doctors and social workers, is in constant dialogue with the government about changes in regulations in this area. Valdis Keris has been at the head of the trade union for 15 years. His term ends at the end of this year and the Congress must be re-elected. Delegates from hospital trade unions have the right to vote. In this case, up to 70 people would come from different regions in one place and stay in the same premises for a long time.
The date of the Congress, December 1, was set even before the declaration of the state of emergency. In the outbreak itself, delegates wrote to Kerim that the measure should be postponed, as epidemiological safety must not be jeopardized at a time when every employee in a medical institution is indispensable.
RAFAELS CIEKURS, Delegate of the LVSADA Congress, Head of the NMPD Brigade Support Center “Krasts”:
“I understand that with this invitation to participate in this Congress, I am being called upon to violate epidemiological security.”
However, the delegates received an answer from Valdis Kera that the congress is neither an entertainment nor a recreational event, but a working meeting, which is allowed by law. He referred to the Register of Enterprises, which explained that general meetings of members were not prohibited.
RAFAELS CIEKURS “:
“We were not lazy, we contacted the Center for Disease Prevention and Control and it made it clear to us that there could be no gatherings of 40-70 people indoors. Because, according to the government’s decision, there is an emergency that prohibits any public events.”
INDIRA OZOLA, LVSADA RPNC “Psychiatry Center”
chairman of the trade union:
“That point in the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers may be a little awkwardly written – there is a lack of the word ‘meetings’. It is about public events and there is a definition in the law of what is a public event. But there is also a definition of what a meeting is. , according to the rules, can only take place outdoors. “
Kerry heard the objections, but continued to work on organizing the congress in person. His main argument – If the Congress were abolished, the trade union would no longer have the right to operate and would not be able to represent the interests of its members.
The congress was planned for December 1 in the 1500-square-meter hall of the conference center “Atta”.
On Tuesday, Valdis Keris signed the congressional regulations. They stipulate that patients who are subject to self-isolation or quarantine must not attend the event. Delegates must wear face masks, seats will be numbered. Physical distance must be observed. Participants are also not allowed to post material filmed during the event on social networks without the consent of others.
The procedure of wearing masks, isolating the sick and numbering seats indoors is not a special addition to the safety regulations devised by the trade union. This is already provided for in the existing government regulation. The only news from the union is a ban on sharing material filmed during the congress on the Internet.
Neither the board nor the council of the medical union has tried the possibility to communicate digitally. According to Kerer, the statutes provide for leadership to be elected by secret ballot.
It cannot be provided remotely, so the congress must take place in person.
The union’s budget is not small. According to the reports of the company’s register, it receives more than 400 thousand euros in membership fees every year. Kerry has been at the forefront of this union for three consecutive terms. He signed the controversial cooperation agreement with the political party ‘Harmony’ and was also ready to help it before the elections. Kerim has been facing stiff competition lately. Young doctors are successfully fighting for their rights.
Although the statutes provide that members have the right to receive information about the work of the union, Kerry does not disclose his and his deputy’s remuneration. He is not an official and this information is protected by data protection.
VALDIS KERIS, Chairman of LVSADA:
“Delegates, of course, have a right to know the necessary information, but within the protection of the law. But in order not to speculate, I can discover that this is commensurate with a good doctor’s salary.”
We turned to the Prime Minister for an explanation of the government’s regulations. Krišjānis Kariņš’s office told us that gatherings and events are limited for the benefit of public health. Associations must also follow the rules and be invited to attend meetings remotely so as not to put them at risk of health and life. Although the specific legal regime already provides for this, the Ministry of Justice will further define the regulation of associations during the pandemic next week.
On Friday evening, we received a message from several delegates that Valdis Keris had canceled the Congress at the particular conference center, citing the refusal of the tenants. The congress is still scheduled for December 1, and participants will be able to choose whether to participate in it remotely or in person. A secret ballot will not be possible, but in circumstances of force majeure, the law and the statutes of the trade union are to be preferred, Valdis Keris wrote on Friday.
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