Their major walkout was averted as some 59 out of 62 medical institutions under Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) accepted a proposal over wages and working conditions.
The decision just came after a bill, which legalizes the medical practice of Physician Assistants (PAs) starting next year, was passed in the National Assembly the previous day.
However, three hospitals -- Chosun University Hospital, Honam Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, and Nowon Eulji Medical Center -- could not reach agreements, so nurses at these institutions are expected to go on strike as planned.
These negotiations took place against a backdrop of a severe manpower shortage in hospitals, exacerbated by trainee doctors resigning in protest against the government's decision to increase the admission quotas of medical schools.
The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) explained that failing to reach an agreement could have led to a larger medical crisis.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
