The National Nurses’ Union (SNE) is available to “negotiate with the Government until the last minute” and find solutions for reviewing the salary scale, extending full dedication and bringing forward the retirement age.
In a statement, the SNE acknowledges that it is not possible to correct in just over three months the problems “that successive governments have created in the National Health System (SNS) over the last 15 years”, but is available to find solutions for those three matters, which correspond to “the three priorities already identified”.
The next one negotiation meeting with the Ministry of Health is scheduled for July 26th, with regard to the review of the salary scale, the SNE intends to increase the salary by two positions for all nurses, referring the transition rules to the negotiation process.
This salary table review, refers, has a estimated impact of 150 million euros per year.
With regard to full dedication, he advocates a voluntary change from 35 to 40 hours, with a pay increase of at least 25% of the category held, this being paid 14 times a year, counting towards retirement purposes.
Regarding the anticipation of the retirement age, the SNE wants a voluntary scheme for those over 60 years of age or with 40 years of professional experience, claiming the risk and hardship of the profession.
In addition to these priority matters, the SNE has a list of other topics to discuss with the Government, expressing its willingness to negotiate them from January 6, 2025. This list includes the performance evaluation model, access to research, annual training hours or the increase in vacation days for nurses with an individual employment contract (CIT) and with a public service employment contract (CTFP), among others.
The SNE is part of the Trade Union Platform Commitment to Nursing, which also brings together the Independent Union of All United Nurses (SITEU), the Nurses’ Union (SE), the Independent Union of Nursing Professionals (SIPENF) and the Democratic Union of Nurses of Portugal (SINDEPOR).
Last week, the Portuguese Nurses’ Union Association (ASPE) has seen its meeting with the Ministry of Health suspended, which should have taken place on July 18, after the supervisory authority announced that it would not negotiate with movements with a strike notice in advance, according to its president. This union’s strike notice includes a stoppage on September 2.
On the same day, the Ministry of Health also suspended negotiations with the Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP) due to the strike notice for August 2nd.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
