Spain's general strike: doctors' union stays out

Spain's general strike on Wednesday, 11 November, will go ahead without the backing of doctors' union CESM. The Spanish Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM) announced in Madrid on Tuesday that it would not join the walkout called by UGT, CCOO and other unions. It says the strike does not address the specific demands of doctors and other medical professionals.

CESM says UGT and CCOO overlooked those demands during months of talks over a draft framework statute. It questions why the unions are now asking medical professionals to join a general strike to defend their rights. With a general election weeks away, CESM also warns against turning doctors' working conditions into a party-political fight.

The union wants a statute and negotiations of its own. It is also calling for job classifications that reflect training and duties, fair rules on working hours and on-call shifts, and decent pay. CESM says those demands must not get lost in a strike with broader aims.

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com