Cracow. Nearly 600 nurses are to consider suing University Hospital. It’s about raises and recognition of qualifications

– In my hospital, almost 600 nurses are ready to go to court to fight for their right to decent remuneration – said Patrycja Błaszczyk, a nurse from the University Hospital in Krakow, at a press conference organized on Monday by politicians of the Civic Coalition from Lesser Poland.

She emphasized that it was about the employer’s refusal to recognize master’s qualifications, which directly translated into lower remuneration.

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According to Błaszczyk, until June 30, the management of the University Hospital in Krakow recognized “qualifications (of nurses) for the degree of Master of Nursing”. That changed in July when New regulations on nurses’ remuneration came into forceproviding for increases. The amounts vary according to “required qualifications”, previously they varied according to “qualifications” and regardless of the position.

Directors of some institutions in the country did not pay increasesrecognizing that a master’s degree is not needed for the position.

– We are treated as if we only have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, although specializations are still recognized. We are a university hospital. We have always been encouraged to educate ourselves. We want our education to continue to be recognized – emphasized Błaszczyk.

The nurse added that before July 2022 National Health Fund paid the hospital funds by name for remuneration for nurses, and now the hospital receives these non-personalized funds and thus – as she assessed – they can be “voluntarily spent by the hospital management”.

Marek Sowa, MP of the Civic Coalition, emphasized at the press conference that “in the case of the University Hospital in Krakow, the contract increased by 20 percent and the payment of salaries at a fair level should be natural, as in all provincial hospitals in Lesser Poland.” The politician announced that KO would apply to medical facilities in Lesser Poland for a change in the approach to the issue of nurses’ salaries. There are 15 such places in the entire province.

The deputy financial director of the University Hospital Bolesław Gronuś refutes the nurse’s allegations. He emphasizes that the July Act says that “remuneration is calculated according to the requirements set by the employer for a given position”. – These requirements result directly from the provisions of the regulation of the Minister of Health – says Gronuś.

According to the deputy director of the facility, “every employee who feels aggrieved by the employer may pursue their cases in institutions appointed for this purpose”.

– The first step on the part of the nursing team was to submit an application to the National Labor Inspectorate. The inspection found no irregularities. Now the next step is to file the case with the court. We are prepared for this, because we have nothing to reproach ourselves for. The hospital fully implemented the provisions of the act – noted Gronuś.

He added that after June 30, 2022, the hospital receives money from the National Health Fund for medical and non-medical employees, not personalized for a given employee. The amount of these funds allowed for raises for people with the required, but not possessed, qualifications for a given position. – Therefore, the raises for female nurses were lower than expected – he admitted.

From July 1, 2022, the minimum salary for nurses and midwives with a master’s degree, with the required specialization, increased to PLN 7,304.66 from PLN 5,477.52.

For nurses and midwives practicing a medical profession requiring a master’s degree, higher education and specialization, or a nurse, midwife with secondary education and specialization, they increased to PLN 5,775.78 from PLN 4,185.65.

For nurses and midwives practicing a medical profession requiring higher education at the level of first-cycle studies (bachelor’s degree) or nurses, midwives with secondary education, without the title of specialist up to PLN 5,322.78 from PLN 3,772.25