The strike at the Hospital de São Bernardo is seeing over 80% participation, with its surgical block operating only the emergency room. This action is also significantly affecting outpatient consultations, and several primary health care units are closed as nurses have joined the strike 100%, stated Zoraima Prado of the SEP to journalists.
“We also have several inpatient services with a 100% strike participation, providing only minimal care,” added the union representative, speaking to journalists during a rally at the entrance of the Hospital de São Bernardo in Setúbal.
The strike was called by the SEP to demand dialogue with the management board of ULSA and the payment of outstanding debts for overtime work performed by nurses. Although a payment plan has been in place for two years, it has not been implemented, according to Zoraima Prado.
“Firstly, the strike concerns the lack of dialogue with the administration board, as we have requested a meeting since April to address these issues, which have worsened since the beginning of the year,” she stated.
“We owe nurses for overtime work that has been pending for two years, with a payment plan yet to be fulfilled. There is also the issue of retroactive payments from productions dating back to 2018. In this institution, there’s a particular issue because a court ruling already mandated payment to some colleagues. It is only fair that after this ruling and others that have followed, [the overtime] is paid to all,” she elaborated.
Prado emphasized that there are nurses from the former Regional Health Administration with unpaid debts dating back to 2023, which have not yet been assumed by ULSA. She also noted that career advancements, supposed to occur in January, have not been realized.
Regarding the amount owed to nurses, Prado mentioned that it varies based on each nurse’s professional situation and service. For example, “a nurse in the emergency service could be a year without work due to a year’s worth of unpaid overtime, potentially resulting in a debt of approximately 20,000 euros, in addition to retrospective payments owed since 2018, with a similar debt amount,” she explained.
The ULSA Communication Office stated they currently lack data regarding strike participation but noted that on September 16, the administration communicated to the union that presented issues would be “gradually resolved within ULSA’s competencies.” They expressed regret, therefore, at the SEP’s decision to proceed with the strike.
“The administration regrets this decision, while emphasizing its commitment to finding solutions that address expressed concerns, respecting employment conditions, the quality of care provision, and worker appreciation,” they added.
