December 26, 2024, 12:35 PM
December 26, 2024, 12:35 PM
Health workers in Santa Cruz confirmed that They will continue with the 48-hour strike which began this Thursday, December 26, despite the Mayor’s announcement that the payment of owed salaries and the signing of contracts will begin.
“We are happy that the payment and contract process is moving forward, but until we see concrete results, the strike continues. “Today and tomorrow we remain firm with this measure.”stated the leader of health workers, Robert Hurtado.
Earlier, the municipal secretary of Health, Marcelo Téllez, reported at a press conference that The contracts have already been sent to the hospitals and that the payment of November salaries will be made between today and tomorrow.
“We are fulfilling the commitments made. We can only hope that the workers suspend the measures to benefit the population,” he declared.
Téllez also clarified that the rehiring will be 100%, except for those that do not comply with legal requirements. “We are working to guarantee job stability, but the sector must understand that health is a right that cannot be affected by strikes,” he added.
Health sector response
For his part, Hurtado pointed out that the workers’ accounts still do not reflect the promised deposits and that the mobilizations will remain active.
“There is nothing deposited in the workers’ accounts. The Mayor’s Office is lying to the population again. We are still unemployed because they have not complied with November salaries or contracts,” he emphasized.
In addition, he announced that a meeting will be held tomorrow, Friday, to evaluate compliance with the commitments and define the measures to follow. “Nothing demobilizes us for now. This week’s strike has been ratified, and next week’s mobilizations are also being evaluated,” he said.
The strike affects care in hospitals and health centers in the three levels in Santa Cruz, leaving thousands of patients without services. Outpatient consultations and scheduled care are suspended, while emergencies operate with contingency plans.
The situation will not improve in the coming days. After ending this strike, the Federation of Unions of Medical Branches of Public Health (Fesirmes) has confirmed another stoppage for the Monday, December 30 and Tuesday, December 31.
These actions, added to the January 1 holiday, will leave hospitals and health centers practically closed until the beginning of the new year.
