Workers of Misericórdias Strike Today for Professional Recognition

Workers from the Santas Casas da Misericórdia are on strike today, a protest organized by the Union of Workers of Commerce, Offices, and Services of Portugal (CESP) to demand professional recognition.

The union announced, “The Union of Portuguese Misericordias (UMP) has once again postponed the meeting with CESP and has not addressed the workers’ demands. Therefore, we will be striking on January 3, 2025.”

In a statement, worker representatives explained that this strike is driven by a longstanding demand that remains unaddressed: “a collective labor contract that values work, professional careers, and seniority.”

In 2022, a decree was published extending the collective labor contract to workers of the Santas Casas, aligning it with the Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS).

However, CESP claims that most Santas Casas have not complied with this decree and aim to “impose a collective labor contract that does not provide for seniority benefits nor guarantees their payment when the minimum wage increases,” contrary to what is stipulated.

In addition to a specific collective labor contract that ensures seniority benefits for all workers based on their tenure, they also demand salary increases that reflect the differentiation between categories and levels in the salary table and the qualifications of the workers.

The union states, “We do not accept that the providers continue to practice charity and mercy at the expense of low salaries and the devaluation of all workers in the sector.”