The decision to add an extra day to the initially planned strike at the Canarian Health Service (SCS) stems from the “refusal” to negotiate the collective's demands by the Minister of Health, Esther Monzón, and the director of the SCS, Adasat Goya. Notably, Goya's salary increase, which is 38,000 euros higher than his predecessor's, is currently suspended by the Constitutional Court.
The main person responsible and head of Canarian healthcare has not called the strike committee to negotiate after the last strike notice, in which SEMCA only called for a strike in the SCS for April 27.
The union regrets that neither Monzón nor Goya show concern for the repercussions these strike days will have on patients of the public health service. According to SEMCA, both officials will be solely responsible for the cancellations of tests, interventions, and consultations that users will experience.
The main demand from doctors and specialists is the opening of a specific negotiation table for the collective, as well as the establishment of their own Staff Boards. The union emphasizes that this claim does not entail additional economic cost but requires “political decision-making capacity.”
“"Only these two individuals, the highest authorities in the archipelago's healthcare, will be to blame for users and patients suffering more cancellations of tests, interventions, and appointments."
The strike committee has reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue but warns that if the Canarian Government maintains its “indifference,” they will continue with the “escalation” of regional strike days, leading to the addition of a second day of strike for Tuesday, April 28.
Finally, SEMCA has apologized to the Canarian population for any inconvenience caused by the strikes, thanking them for their continuous support and directly pointing to Minister Esther Monzón and Director Adasat Goya as responsible for the service suspensions on April 27 and 28.
