Nurses and Midwive's Strike in South of Poland

Nurses and midwives have started a strike in five hospitals in the South of Poland - in Zywiec, Brystra, Miedzybrodzie and two in Bielsko-Biala. The nurses are demanding raises that were promised to them in 2006 and 2007.

The strike started on Monday, but nurses did not at first leave work. Now they have started to do so. One third of the nurses at the main hospital in Bielsko-Biala, where almost 500 nurses and midwives are employed, are on strike.

Four of the five hospitals claim that the strikes are illegal.

Nurses with 20 years' experience still receive a basic salary of only 2,300 zl. (567 euro). Their salaries should have been raised in increments to 3000 zl. (740 euro) according to the agreement.