The Union of Nurses of Catalonia and the department headed by Manel Balcells agree on labor improvements and a monitoring table
After a month and a half of indefinite strike, the nurses have managed to reach an agreement with the Department of Health to end the conflict. The Union of Nurses of Catalonia and councilor Manel Balcells had a meeting of more than four hours this Thursday in which they agreed positions and signed a document with several commitments. As union sources have informed Europa Press, the pact includes improvements in the working conditions of nurses, but does not establish any salary supplement until the Spanish government requalifies their professional category.
A study on workloads and a bilateral table
Among the agreements reached, the carrying out of a study on the workloads borne by nurses stands out, which will have to be presented before December 31 of this year. This study will serve to determine staffing needs and appropriate ratios to ensure quality patient care. In addition, the union and the department will establish a bilateral dialogue table that will meet every two months to follow up on agreements and address other issues of interest to the nursing community.
The pending claim: the change of category
The point that has not been resolved is the reference to the salary supplement that the nurses claimed while the Ministry of Health, headed by Pilar Alegría, does not recognize them as category A1. This change would mean an increase in salary and recognition as health professionals. The Catalan Nurses’ union has asked the Department of Health to intercede with the Spanish government to achieve this requalification, and councilor Balcells has promised to convey this request to the minister in the meeting he will have with her next week .
The conquests of nurses
With the agreement reached today, the Union of Infermeres de Catalunya has obtained recognition of the role of nurses as shift and guard leaders, and respect of their right to digital disconnection with the creation of a digital disconnection code that will be implemented in 2024. The real needs of the territory’s vehicle fleet will also be analyzed and will be increased according to this analysis during the first half of this year to ensure the portfolio of home care services of the CAP of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS). From the union, however, they are not completely satisfied with the agreement signed, since they consider that they have not achieved all their demands, but “it is a first step”. They justify the decision to call off the strike to “give nursing and the public a break”.