The finance ministry of a German state has been criticised for sending medical staff working on the front line during the pandemic sausage spread to say thank you.
According to German newspaper Bild, the Ministry of Finance of the western German state of Saarland on the border to France wanted to do something good for those who have taken care of French COVID-19 patients.
According to national news outlet lokalo.de, the ministry sent a “Saarland thank you” to the nursing staff who were active during the Corona pandemic.
The bags each had a Lyoner sausage spread and a vegetarian spread.
According to Bild, a care officer at the Union for medical employees, Verdi, Michael Quetting called the action “Lyonergate” and said: “A mockery! What did those responsible think? We have always said that hospital staff, as well as nurses, are entitled to a financial bonus. Instead, there is Lyoner! The coronavirus intensive care unit at SHG Kliniken in Volklingen received exactly three bags for 40 employees. They can really fill their stomachs now.
Adding: “I didn’t even know that Lyoner was available as a paste.”
According to lokalo.de, the Saarland European State Secretary, Roland Theis said it was a matter of “sending a gesture of thanks to some participants of the German-French relations. In addition to the clinic teams, the gifts were also given to the French health authorities, the federal police and partners at universities.”
According to national news outlet sol.de, the Verdi union reports disputes between Saarland University Clinic and its nursing staff due to unpaid corona allowances which they call: “Empty Corona promises”.
Verdi has reportedly raised serious allegations against Saarland University Clinic.
The Treasury Department said they asked the Saarland Ministry of Finance why they chose spreads as thank-you gifts and that the press office of the finance ministry stated that excellent food is the hallmark of Saarland.
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Story By: Lisa-Maria Goertz, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
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