[NATIONAL] Doctors, medical workers launch collective action against Nursing Act

Coalition threatens general strike May 17 if president does not veto bill
Warning of a solidarity general strike on 17 May if the president does not exercise his veto

By Jun Ji-hye

A group of doctors and other medical workers ― except professional nurses ― will begin a collective action on Wednesday in protest of the controversial introduction last Thursday of the Nursing Act by the National Assembly controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.
Last Thursday, doctors and medical workers, excluding professional nurses, will begin a group action to abolish the National Assembly’s Nursing Act, which is being pushed by the Democratic Party and is at the center of controversy, from Wednesday.

A coalition of 13 medical workers’ organizations including the Korea Medical Association (KMA) and the Korean Licensed Practical Nurses Association announced Tuesday that its collective actions will begin with shortening consultation and practicing hours, and holding rallies across the country.
On Tuesday, the Conservation Welfare Medical Solidarity (Medical Solidarity), an alliance of 13 medical organizations, including the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Nursing Association, announced that they would take collective actions, starting with shortening treatment hours and holding national rallies.

In Seoul, a rally will be held at 5:30 p.m. near the National Assembly.
In Seoul, a rally is held at 5:30 p.m. near the National Assembly.

The coalition led by the KMA ― comprised of doctors ― said another partial strike will be held on May 11.
The Medical Coalition, led by the Medical Association of doctors, said another partial strike would take place on May 11.

The coalition threatened its 4 million members will go on a general strike on May 17 if President Yoon Suk Yeol does not exercise his veto power against the bill.
The medical solidarity warned that if President Yoon Seok-yeol does not exercise his veto, 4 million members of the union will go on a solidarity general strike on May 17.

The partial strike may have minimal impact as the medical workers are planning to work normally in the morning and join the strike in the late afternoon “to minimize any inconvenience to patients.”
The impact of a partial strike may be minimal, as medical staff plan to go on strike in the late afternoon after working normally in the morning to “minimize discomfort to patients.”

But, as the coalition is comprised of radiology technicians, dentists, emergency medical technicians and care workers, as well as doctors and nursing assistants, its general strike could paralyze medical services for the public.
However, since the medical solidarity consists not only of doctors and assistant nurses, but also radiologists, dentists, paramedics, and caregivers, there is a possibility that the national medical service will be paralyzed by a general strike.

Bracing for possible chaos in the country’s health care system, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has shifted into emergency mode, asking the coalition to refrain from collective actions.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare requested the medical solidarity to refrain from collective action in preparation for chaos in the medical world, and went into an emergency system.

“The Nursing Act is a bad law as it privileges only nurses and discriminates against other medical workers,” Park Myung-ha, a senior member of the KMA, said during press conference.
“The Nursing Act is an evil law that gives preferential treatment only to nurses and discriminates against other medical workers,” said Park Myeong-ha, head of the medical cooperative’s emergency response committee, at a press conference.

“According to the KMA survey, more than 80 percent of the medical workers agreed with the need to take collective actions against such a bad law.”
“According to a KMA survey, more than 80% of healthcare workers agreed that collective action should be taken against these evil laws,” he said.

Park noted the coalition is paying keen attention to whether President Yoon will veto the bill.
Chairman Park emphasized that President Yoon is keeping a keen eye on whether to exercise his veto.

KEY WORDS
■ collective action
■ controversial Controversial
■ coalition (particularly political)
■ rally
■ veto power veto power
■ bill (submitted to the National Assembly)
■ strike strike
■ be comprised of
■ paralyze
■ refrain from refrain from
■ privilege Give privilege

View original article