Congress blocks pay regrade for Spanish health staff
Spain’s Congress in Madrid has rejected a bid to update pay and job grades for hundreds of thousands of health-service workers. Coalición Canaria’s motion fell on Wednesday, with 15 votes in favour, 39 against and 294 abstentions. It sought changes to the new Estatuto Marco, the draft law setting employment rules for the health system.
The proposal covered vocationally trained health staff, as well as management and service workers, and called for reform of the career-progression system. Coalición Canaria MP Cristina Valido said the argument over the bill had become too focused on doctors’ demands, while other essential hospital staff were being overlooked.
Row over health employment bill
PP MP María Ramírez attacked the draft for reaching Congress without agreement and called for Health Minister Mónica García to resign. She pointed to a year and a half of disputes and strikes, including an indefinite strike called from 28 October.
The Basque Nationalist Party, PNV, urged Congress to withdraw the Estatuto Marco bill and restart its preparation through negotiations. Its MP Joseba Andoni Agirretxea said many autonomous communities were also asking for that. Junts backed a full rejection, saying confrontation caused by the Health Ministry had made the project unworkable.
Socialists still back a new framework
PSOE MP Valle Mellado highlighted the role of nursing care assistants, known as TCAE, particularly as the population ages and chronic illness becomes more common. She also acknowledged their fatigue, citing understaffed teams, difficulties balancing work and personal life, and lack of time.
Mellado said her party accepts the need to revise professional and pay grades for health, management and service staff. PSOE continues to support a new Estatuto Marco, arguing it is the best route to recognise workers who are currently wrongly classified and improve their working conditions.
Topics: Strikes · Education · Health · Politics
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com