Some progress is reported in negotiations in the industrial dispute between nurses and their employers. However they remain far apart on the main bone of contention -- pay hikes.
Meanwhile, battle strategies are being fine-tuned on both sides.
Participants in Thursday night's discussions were not giving away much, either before or after the three-and-a-half hour talks, and the progress reported did not show in their demeanours. This was no doubt due to lack of agreement on the hot potato of salary increases.
Agreement on this major sticking point could have headed off Friday's final Parliamentary approval of the Patient Safety Act. President Tarja Halonen signed the bill into law on Friday afternoon. It takes effect on Saturday.
Other unions fear that this legislation will set a precedent for the state to intervene in other industrial battles.
The current and future implications of the situation have put the negotiators under heavy pressure to force a resolution. But there are still a few days of meetings left to save the situation and avert the planned mass resignation scenario and its consequences.
Municipal Administrative Boards are preparing to deliver letters ordering nurses to report for duty.
Nurses will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the letters. The nurses' counter-strategy is simply to be "unavailable" during their off-duty hours, and therefore unable to receive the letters. Current laws do not prevent them from doing so.
