Health information services hotline workers begin indefinite strike
061 employees decry "continuous breaches" of salary, working time, and hiring regulations
Some 700 people in Catalonia who are employed by the 061 health information services hotline began an indefinite strike on Monday at 11 pm after the workers' committee and their employer, Ferrovial, failed to reach an agreement.
According to the workers, they experience "continuous breaches" of salary, working time, and hiring regulations.
Although a meeting with employees, Ferrovial, and authorities was held in order "to find solutions" to this issue, members of the UGT trade union complained of the response from the Catalan health department and the Emergency Medical System (SEM): "They haven't gotten involved to find an answer to these demands."
061, as opposed to 112, is meant for health system queries and medical problems that do not require immediate care, although workers do have the ability to send out first responders if necessary.
Ever since these services were outsourced to Ferrovial, UGT argues, instability has become widespread as working conditions have become more precarious.