On November 29th, citizens of the Schaffhausen canton will vote for a legal change affecting over 1,700 hospital employees of this canton. If approved, the hospital management will have more competence for determining wages and working conditions.

Citizens of the Schaffhausen canton in Switzerland will decide in the November 29th vote whether employees of the cantonal hospital should have new employment conditions, switching from cantonal law to personnel to a collective labour agreement.

According to Public Television SRFCurrently, the majority of about 1,700 Schaffhausen Hospitals are considered state employees and subject to cantonal rules for wages, working schedules and holidays, the Telegraph broadcast.

The proposed change of the hospital law aims to grant directors of the institution more autonomy in personnel policies, enabling faster adjustment of wages and working conditions according to the institution’s needs and competition for health personnel.

The proposal envisions job relations being regulated through a collective labour contract ( GAV, which will be negotiated between hospital directors and employees’ representatives. Minimum standards for protection of personnel, including job protection and salary maintenance during the transition period, are also envisioned in the law.

The change has sparked discussions among political parties. Social Democrat Party ( The SP) opposes reform, voicing concern that being removed from cantonal law could lead to worsening working conditions for health personnel.

On the other hand, the VPOD union supports the proposal, praising that collective labour agreement could ensure the protection needed for employees. Most other parties have expressed support for the change.

The Schaffhausen Cantonal Council had approved the reform in August by 43 votes to and none against, while 12 members had refrained. Since the required four – fifth majority was not reached, the proposal would undergo direct citizens’ vote on November 29th.

If the reform is adopted, Schaffhausen will join other Swiss cantons, such as Cyril, Berna and Basel, where public hospitals have more autonomy in determining the employment conditions of personnel. /Telegraphy/