“We will not accept less than we deserve”: nurses demand salaries in line with the complexity of the profession
The Independent Union of Nursing Professionals (SIPEnf) demanded a salary adjustment for the profession, taking into account “recent increases in value” to other careers, according to a statement released this Sunday.
In the note, the union structure said that, “following recent attributions of other valuations, including salaries, to other professions, SIPEnf comes demand a salary adjustment commensurate with the complexity and responsibility of the nursing profession”.
Stating that nothing moves nurses “against other professional classes”, the union ensures that “the nursing career, classified as one of the most complex (grade 3) within public administration, cannot be undervalued in comparison with other professions”.
“We cannot accept that our profession, highly complex and vital to the SNS, [Serviço Nacional de Saúde]be equated with other less demanding ones. We must put pressure on the Government and use all means, including social media, to make it clear that we will not accept less than we deserve”, said Fernando Parreira, president of SIPEnf, quoted in the same note.
Equal contracts and minimum progression of two levels
The organization, which forms part of a platform with other unions in the sector for negotiations with the Government, met several demands for the profession.
The union structure “claims progression of at least two salary levels in the nurses’ salary scale for everyone” it’s at “negotiation of a collective work agreement that unifies the two existing types of hiring”, that is, Individual Employment Contract – CIT and Public Functions Employment Contract (CTFP), “ensuring equal conditions for all nurses”.
The union also demands the “implementation of measures that recognize and minimize the risks and hardship associated with the nursing profession, with specific conditions for access to retirement”, defending “the retirement at age 62, based on studies by the International Labor Organization (ILO) that indicate the loss of one year of life for every seven years of shift work”.
For SIPEnf, it is also essential “an objective performance assessment, based on measurable criteria and not subjective criteria”, as well as an “immediate solution to problems arising from incorrect or non-application of the law, such as point counting and career progression”.
The union structure also regrets that there is not always unity between unions. “Disunity has historically weakened our negotiations, allowing the Government to exploit division,” he said.
Five nurses’ unions signed, on July 3, with the Ministry of Health, a negotiating protocol that included the review of salary scales, but warned that they would not accept increases of less than 400 euros in the upcoming negotiations. start.
“Nurses will not accept salary increases of less than 400 euros, that is, less than two salary indexes in their career. We made this very clear today at the negotiation table”, the Lusa agency said at that time. president of the Nurses Union (SE), Pedro Costa, after the meeting that took place at the Ministry of Health.
The SE integrates a platform of five union structures – which also includes the Independent Union of Nursing Professionals (SIPEnf), the Independent Union of All United Nurses (SITEU), the Democratic Union of Nurses of Portugal (SINDEPOR) and the National Nurses Union (SNE) – which signed this negotiating protocol, that is, the terms and matters to be negotiated between the two parties.
