Nurses Strike in Portugal as Government Fails to Address Staffing and Career Concerns

Nurses on Strike Over Lack of Government Response

This Friday marks a nationwide strike by nurses, with minimum services in place. The protest includes a national concentration and the delivery of a document to the Ministry of Health, signed by thousands, opposing the government's proposal on the Collective Labor Agreement.

Key Issues in the Dispute

The Portuguese Nurses' Union met with Health Minister Ana Paula Martins on Thursday to discuss regional emergencies, particularly in gynecology and obstetrics. However, the proposal for the Collective Labor Agreement, presented in July, was excluded from the agenda.

Guadalupe Simões, a union leader, expressed disappointment, stating that expectations for new recruitment competitions and career progression opportunities were not addressed. She emphasized, 'The ministry continues to not respond to the needs for hiring nurses and opening competitions', highlighting that no institutions have opened such competitions this year.

Fears of Service Closures

Simões raised concerns that the ministry's restructuring of regional emergencies could lead to the permanent closure of services in various hospitals. She warned that any temporary solutions might signal the beginning of definitive shutdowns, depriving residents of local access to essential services.

A video from the protest is available, featuring Guadalupe Simões discussing these issues.

Experimental Periods and Broader Strikes

The plan, set to be formalized soon, includes a two-year experimental period, which Simões criticized, saying, 'There are no experimental periods of two years', and advocating for shorter terms until staffing shortages are resolved.

In related news, the National Federation of Doctors decided on Thursday, after meeting with the Ministry of Health, to proceed with a strike next Friday, citing potential closures of gynecology and obstetrics emergencies that could harm public access to care.

Source: Lusa