MPs disagree over causes of North Ostrobothnia layoffs

The North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county, Pohde, is dismissing more than 300 employees after its change negotiations ended, Yle reported. MPs from the Oulu electoral district called the outcome regrettable but disagreed over its causes and possible solutions.

Left Alliance MP Hanna Sarkkinen described the result as depressing and said it reflected the difficulties facing Pohde and many other wellbeing services counties.

“Pohde does not have many options when the state funding squeeze is so tight,” said Sarkkinen, who represents Oulu.

She criticised the government for failing to extend the deadline for covering deficits early enough and by a sufficient amount. In her view, Pohde should have been given two additional years to meet the requirement.

“The government has made a major mistake, and the employees and residents of the wellbeing services county are paying for it,” Sarkkinen said.

Hänninen calls for review of administration

Juha Hänninen, an Oulu MP from the governing National Coalition Party, also called the dismissals regrettable. He said Pohde could improve its operations and reduce its structures in administration and management.

Hänninen highlighted that the government has increased funding for social and health services by about four billion euros compared with the previous parliamentary term.

“Access to care and balancing the finances of the wellbeing services counties have been key political choices, even though significant savings have been made elsewhere in central government finances,” he said.

Hänninen said savings should be sought from administration, premises and information technology systems rather than from work with patients.

Hiltunen says government cuts are being felt directly

Social Democratic Party MP Pia Hiltunen described the situation as extremely sad and said employees who had done highly valuable work were being made to bear the consequences of the government’s social and health services policy.

She referred to a report by the Parliamentary Ombudsman, which had recently been discussed in Parliament and stated that the wellbeing services counties had insufficient resources.

“At the same time as Parliament is discussing the endangerment of statutory services, hundreds of employees have to be dismissed at Pohde. These issues are directly connected,” said Hiltunen, who represents Oulu.

She particularly criticised the fact that the staff reductions would also affect customer and patient work. Hiltunen said the National Coalition Party’s solution appeared repeatedly to be cuts and questioned how long the welfare society could withstand what she called the party’s excessive cutting policy.

Oinas-Panuma blames the government

Olga Oinas-Panuma, a Centre Party MP from Pudasjärvi, said she was extremely saddened by the situation.

“I certainly do not blame Pohde for this, because I know very well that the responsibility lies with the government. The increase in state funding does not even cover the rise in wages,” Oinas-Panuma said.

She called on the state to provide additional time to cover the deficit. According to Oinas-Panuma, deficits have to be covered too quickly, making it impossible to take sensible and predictable decisions.

Yle also contacted Finns Party MPs from the Oulu electoral district for comment but received no responses.