The alarm from within the Sámi Parliament: "On the breaking point"

Several people SVT Sápmi talks to at the Sami Parliament raise the alarm about the work situation.

- People are so loyal.

It is not wise how well people want the Sámi Parliament even though it is stressful, says an employee.

At the same time, the budget document for 2023 shows that the Sami Parliament needs an additional nine million kroner to cope with current tasks, personnel and elected activities.

Peter Benson, union chairman at Saco, links the stress to the workload increasing without the office receiving more resources.

According to him, it's not about the managers quitting - but about not having time to complete the assignments, including the consultation procedure, that the Sámi Parliament has.

- I consider it more problematic than this temporary thing with managers.

That many managers have to be replaced, we have experienced that in the past, so we are a bit used to it, says Peter Benson.

He continues:

- There is more work-related ill health and a high level of stress among the staff and that is problematic, says Peter Benson who is chairman of Saco, which is one of two trade unions at the Sámi Parliament's chancellery.

Closer to two million to the former chancellor

The workload has increased at the same time as the board has been in open conflict with the chancellor.

At the end of January, the board and Fredrik Österling agreed that he should quit - which costs the Sami Parliament nearly two million kroner in monthly salaries from an already strained budget.

How do you see the amount affecting the Sami Parliament's operations?

- I think it is deeply unfortunate.

I feel that this is entirely the board's business, it is they who have put themselves in the situation, says Fredrik Österling.

"For me, politics is the most important thing"

On Tuesday, the year's first plenum starts in Ubmeje and both the head of office issue and the budget basis will be discussed, according to information to SVT Sápmi.

- This was an assessment that we on the board made, we had to come to a solution.

From our perspective, the Sámi Parliament has not worked, says Håkan Jonsson.

Lars-Ove Ságån is acting chancellor until October 31, but the unions at the Sami Parliament, Saco and ST Sápmi, have not received information about when and how the recruitment work for chancellor will take place.