These two days of strike were called by the Union of
Portuguese Nurses (SEP) and followed a first strike held on Thursday and Friday,
which, according to leader Guadalupe Simões, registered an overall turnout of
around 60%.
“The expectation is at least the same level of adhesion” to
the strike, as well as the demonstration scheduled for 2:00 pm on Wednesday,
Guadalupe Simões told Lusa.
With this stoppage, the SEP hopes that Manuel Pizarro's
ministry will schedule a meeting to start negotiations aimed at restoring
parity between the nursing career and that of senior technicians in public
administration, alleging that there is discrimination at all pay levels.
In addition, the union claims the payment of the replacement
of career points retroactive to January 2018 and not to January of this
year, as the Government recently decided.
The strike notice provides for minimum services to “provide
in unavoidable situations”, such as emergencies, intensive care, and operating
rooms with the exception of scheduled surgeries, hemodialysis, and cancer
treatments, among others.