Unions Denounce 'Abusive' Minimum Services on First Day of Ambulance Strike in Alicante

On Tuesday, the first day of the indefinite strike called by healthcare transport staff took place in the Valencian Community. Dozens of workers, out of more than 2,000 called to strike, gathered at various points across the Valencian Community.

In Alicante, the epicentre of Tuesday's protests was the entrance to Alicante General Hospital, with a demonstration held at 12 noon. Another protest is scheduled for Wednesday at the same time at Elche General Hospital, while on Thursday, the chosen location will be Torrevieja University Hospital.

UGT sources—one of the unions that, along with CCOO and CSIF, called the strike—denounce the 'abusive' minimum services determined by the Health Department for the strike. The union's proposal for minimum services was 100% for both the Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) and Advanced Life Support (SVA), 'due to the urgent and emergency care they provide.'

In these two services, both parties have shown consensus on the minimum assistance coverage; something that has not occurred with Basic Life Support (SVB) transport, where Health has imposed 80% for its regular services, and the organisers demanded 70%.

There was also no consensus on non-urgent health transport (TSNU). Health authorities have set minimum services at 80% (100% in areas affected by the DANA) with priority for scheduled transfers of oncology patients (diagnostic tests, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) and those undergoing haemodialysis.

However, the unions demanded minimum services of 30% for these ambulances to cover 'solely and exclusively' patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and dialysis. 'Although the services they provide are not for emergencies, these services should not be interrupted for the patients' benefit,' the unions admit. However, they considered that 'on weekends and holidays, the service is around 20% on average to cover them, so it is understood that with 30%, there is enough margin for it.'

Among the collective's demands for going on strike is 'a decent agreement so that the 2,000 workers employed in the sector stop being the 'low cost' staff of Valencian healthcare.' However, they lament that, after a year of negotiations, the employers and their main companies, which provide services for public healthcare, 'still have not made any proposal that would enable an agreement.'

Additionally, they criticise that the Health Department 'has not bothered to attend the meetings requested by the unions to ask for mediation for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.'

The striking unions demand salary parity with other autonomous communities, where fixed concept earnings are between 20% and 45% higher, while in the Valencian Community, sector personnel 'are subsisting on salaries between 1,050 euros and 1,200 euros net for 40-hour work weeks, according to categories, with night shifts and from Monday to Sunday,' according to the unions.