The Health Minister, Mónica García, chose not to appear at the press conference after the Council of Ministers at which, after months of protests that have brought together doctors and healthcare workers from across the ideological spectrum, her new Framework Statute for staff in this sector, which is vital in any state, was unveiled.
It fell to the government spokesperson, Socialist minister Elma Saíz, to defend this openly unpopular measure, on the grounds, she said, that it is backed by the ‘main trade unions’, namely SATSE-FSES, CC.OO., UGT and CSIF, as opposed to the organisations that joined forces to protest against the text approved today, which still has to complete its passage through Congress.
Professionals are calling for a number of measures they do not see reflected in García’s reform. García is an anaesthetist and represents the minority wing of the government for Sumar, under Más Madrid’s quota. Among their demands are that the additional part of their shifts – on-call duties – should count towards Social Security contributions and that they should be entitled to an allowance for night work or compensatory rest days after several consecutive shifts, as already happens under agreements for the National Police or prison staff.
