The Swedish Nurses' Union, Vårdförbundet, has escalated its ongoing dispute with the employers' association, Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner (SKR), by announcing an expansion of its overtime ban to include 29 additional municipalities from May 20 if no resolution is reached.

This escalation affects about 5,000 members across various health services including school health services and home care.

The union's demands focus on improved working conditions and pay, highlighting the essential work of nurses in municipal services such as school nurses and nurses at special accommodations.

The conflict, which began on April 25, centers on demands for reduced weekly working hours for key healthcare professionals including midwives, biomedical analysts, radiology nurses, and nurses.