The Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) union has described the situation of the workers at the Sant Joan de Déu municipal nursing home in Pego as 'unsustainable'. The union is calling for the 'urgent' launch of the Staffing Structure Monitoring Commission of the Pego City Council to assess working conditions not recognized by the current document, such as technical difficulty, functional responsibility, shift work, hazardousness, arduousness, schedule availability, increased dedication, and holidays.
According to CCOO, the discontent among the majority of nursing assistants stems from the loss of purchasing power since the approval of the Staffing Structure. Union representative Xavi Tro points out that the implementation of this structure has resulted in a lower salary increase for the workers, who work seven days on and seven days off, compared to other municipal employees.
The union also denounces the 'urgent' need to hire another auxiliary nursing care technician (TCAE) to meet the ratio set by the Generalitat Valenciana, prevent medical leave due to harsh working conditions, and respect shift patterns, holidays, and rest periods.
The Human Resources department of the Pego City Council assures that the ratio is met, as in addition to the 11 nursing assistants, there is a socio-sanitary care operator who performs similar functions, and a support person hired from July to December. It is also indicated that the Staffing Structure recognizes shift work, arduousness, and schedule availability, but not hazardousness, as they believe extraordinary risks can be managed.
Another point of discontent is the functioning of the employment pool, which according to CCOO 'does not work well' and causes the workload to fall on the remaining colleagues. Mayor Enrique Moll acknowledges problems with the pool but notes that there are forty registered individuals and that short-term substitutions discourage hiring in Pego.
CCOO also denounces that some workers are still owed vacation days from last year, reminding that the law does not allow vacation days to be replaced by financial compensation. The Councilor for Finance, Ricardo Sendra, explains that the seven-day work and seven-day rest shifts already include the main holidays, and that any pending days are likely few.
Regarding productivity bonuses, Xavi Tro states that none of the 22 workers have ever received such a bonus, contributing to the loss of purchasing power. Human Resources recalls that the approval of the Staffing Structure aims to eliminate productivity bonuses, and that no municipal staff currently receives them.
CCOO proposes solutions such as creating a more efficient employment pool, internal promotion for workers performing higher-category tasks, and a thorough review of the Staffing Structure profiles. They advocate for the urgent implementation of the Staffing Structure Monitoring Commission.
Mayor Enrique Moll regrets learning about the union's demands through the press, without any official notification. He recalls the six years of negotiation for the Staffing Structure, approved unanimously, and the effort to improve the quality of work and salaries of municipal employees.
Regarding overtime hours, workers have reached the maximum allowed (80 hours). Negotiations are underway with the relevant departments to improve working conditions, including the possibility of hiring a reinforcement person or increasing the standard working day to 37.5 hours, a proposal to which CCOO objects.
Compromís spokesperson Víctor Climent notes that many issues were addressed during the Staffing Structure's development without union disagreement. He defends the need to update pools and implement staffing if ratios are not met. He emphasizes that the nursing home is not a municipal responsibility and that the Generalitat should take charge.
The PP of Pego criticizes the local government's management and the problematic situation of the workers, calling for them to be heard and for a dignified solution. Spokesperson Ferran González points out that the facility is 'increasingly dangerous, unsafe, and old' and criticizes municipal 'patches', proposing public-private collaboration.
The Councilor for Social Services reports that a meeting has been requested with the Department of Social Services to address the responsibilities for providing the nursing home service, considered an improper competence of the city council. The aim is to highlight the deficiencies, needs, and the state of the facilities, which require comprehensive renovation and approximately 75 places, in addition to a day center.
The mayor regrets that the renovation project has been with the Department for six years, with no response from either the previous or current regional governments. He estimates the investment between 5 and 7 million euros and notes that the Department suggested privatization, but no company dares to make the investment with the current number of places.
