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On International Nurses Day, Swiss UNICARE affiliate Unia has launched a manifesto for quality support, adequate time and respect for care workers on the job.

The union is pushing for a government ruling on maximum profits in the care and support sector, enough public money for the sector, more time for workers with patients and residents, and an improvement working conditions through the introduction of a collective agreement. The basis of the manifesto is a clear statement: every human being has the right to quality support. And this support must be based on the well-being of people, not based on costs.

The health industry is a strong growth market and some companies are reaping huge profits, often to the detriment of staff and those receiving care. Yet a lack of staff time devoted to patients and residents, an increase in workplace stress, and flexible working hours have become the hallmarks of the daily experience of employees in the Swiss care sector. The consequences of this are felt by the patients and residents they care for, with the increasingly impersonal services they receive seeming more like production line work, rather than the dedicated, personal support patients and residents need.

"In order to improve working conditions, it is necessary that all employees gather and that unions and associations active in the sector collaborate. Together we will be stronger," said Udo Michel, of Unia. 

The manifesto has now been distributed for extensive consultation and, on International Nurses day, was distributed across Swiss cities both to launch the debate and raise public awareness of the problems in the health and care sector. 

To get involved in the consultation process, or to read the manifesto which is available in German, French and Italian, go to: unia.ch/manifeste-soins