The union and the council agree on organizational improvements and the recognition of nursing specialties
After more than a month and a half of indefinite strike, the Catalan Nurses union and the Department of Health have reached an agreement to end the conflict. The union, which has no representation at the sectoral table, had started the strike last December 12 to demand salary and professional improvements for nursing.
The agreement, which was signed this Thursday, includes commitments by the Government in matters of organization and recognition of the profession. However, the nurses have had to give up the supplement of 400 to 600 euros per month that they claimed as compensation for the requalification of the civil service category A1, which depends on the Spanish government.
The measures agreed between Health and Nurses of Catalonia
Among the agreed measures, the following stand out:
- The Government will prioritize the request for the requalification of nursing to category A1 before the Ministry of Health.
- The figure of the nurse will be recognized as head of shift and on duty and the right will be guaranteed to digital disconnection with the implementation of a digital disconnection code during 2024.
- An assessment of the territory’s vehicle needs will be made and the fleet will be increased according to the results during the first semester of this year to ensure home care for the CAPs of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS).
- A job board will be created for specific positions for specialist nurses and the specialties of ‘nursing with an official title and those specialized via master’s or expertise.
The union has positively assessed the agreement, although it has recognized that it is not what they expected. He has affirmed that it is a first step to improve the conditions of nursing and has called off the strike to give the profession and the public a breather. However, he has warned that he will continue to monitor the fulfillment of commitments and that he will not hesitate to mobilize again if necessary.
The third agreement of the ICS, the origin of the conflict
The nurses’ strike was a response to the third agreement of the ICS, which was agreed between the Department of Health and the unions Metges de Catalunya, CCOO, UGT and SATSE. This agreement affects around 55,000 healthcare workers in Catalonia and foresees an additional 320 million euros a year.
The Infermeres de Catalunya union considered that the agreement did not adequately recognize the profession and called an indefinite strike to claim what they considered fair. Their demands were the recognition of the A1 category, the salary supplement, the recognition of specialties and the non-use of their own vehicle for nursing tasks.
