Adherence of more than 90% to the strike in hospitals in Lisbon, Porto and Braga

The strike by SNS medical assistants and technical assistants started today at 00:00 with a membership of over 90% in hospitals in Lisbon, Porto and Braga, revealed the Federation of Unions of Workers in Public Functions (FNSTPS).

“In Coimbra, membership was 80%, which shows that workers are seeing their demands,” said union leader Sebastião Santana, speaking to Lusa, referring to the demand for the creation of a specific career for about than 30,000 health professionals with specific functions.

Federation data reveal that the strike, which fulfills minimum services, ensuring emergency situations, registers a 100% adherence in hospitals such as São José and D. Estefânia, in Lisbon, and Fernando Fonseca, in Amadora, and 85% in S. João in Porto.

The strike, starting on Friday morning, could affect even more services according to the union leader: “When the external consultations open, it is expected that they will not be able to open because there are no technical assistants”, he estimated.

As for medical assistants, with responsibilities in primary care and even operating rooms, Sebastião Santana estimates that they will also experience an impact due to the strike.

When he announced the strike a week ago, Sebastião Santana said he expected “great adherence” to the strike, because “the workers’ dissatisfaction is enormous”, referring to the approximately 30 thousand workers with specific functions who, being health professionals, “are thrown into the general careers”.

The strike was called by the National Federation of Unions of Workers in Public and Social Functions (FNSTPS), to demand the creation and effective negotiation of a career for these professionals.