Satse called off the midwife strike in Osakidetza after opening negotiations on the lack of professionals

The union Satse has temporarily called off the midwife strike calledfor this summer in Osakidetza after opening talks with the Basque Health Service. The union has called for structural measures to address the lack of professionals in the Basque Country and will analyse the outcome of the negotiations at a meeting scheduled for 5 October.

Initially, nine strike days were called between 17 June and 2 July, with mobilizations aimed at denouncing the lack of midwives in both primary and hospital care, a lack which, according to Sats, makes it difficult to ensure adequate care for women in different areas of the health system.

An open road with Osakidetza

The suspension of the strike comes after several daysof contacts between Satse and the representatives of Osakidetza. Both parties have agreed to open a working path to analyse the main demands of the collective and to consider measures to improve job coverage and care conditions.

However, the union has been cautious about the outcome of the negotiations, explaining that it has taken the decision to call off the strike responsiblyand wants to give dialogue a chance, but has warned that it will resume mobilizations if the commitments made do not translate into concrete measures.

The October 5 meeting will be decisive in measuring the degree of compliance with what has been agreed so far, at which the midwives will review the proclamations made and consider the measures taken to address the lack of professionals, which Satse considers to be structural.

According to the union, the number of midwives in the Basque Country is insufficient: there is a midwife of 2,600 women, so she calls for a stable reinforcement plan to ensure safe and quality care in public health in the Basque Country.