The Regional Council of Pirkanmaa has officially decided to start new dismissal consultations (YT negotiations) regarding the welfare area's operations. This decision follows an earlier plan to finalize the negotiations, which was postponed to allow politicians ample time to better understand the implications of the changes proposed. The rationale behind this move is the need to adapt and standardize various operations within the welfare area, ensuring efficiency and consistency in service delivery.

Importantly, the negotiations are not primarily aimed at layoffs; however, redundancy is a possibility for individuals who refuse to accept substantial changes to their employment terms. According to HR Director Aija Tuimala, most of the anticipated changes will involve work hours, while some employees may be required to change their workplace locations. This emphasizes the ongoing efforts to harmonize working hours and work areas, as well as to balance staffing across different service branches that encompass approximately 2,900 health and welfare professionals out of a total workforce exceeding 17,000 in the region.

The previous negotiation rounds concluded in December, and this new initiative marks a significant step in adapting the Pirkanmaa region's welfare services to meet emerging needs and challenges. With these changes, the welfare area aims to improve service delivery and operational efficiency across its various sectors, impacting a large number of employees and health service users in the region.