Medical and nursing staff from the clinics in Lantarón, Añana, and Valdegovía returned to work after the industrial action. Concurrently, some colleagues traveled to the Basque Parliament to present their grievances directly to the Minister of Health, aiming to improve their working conditions.
“"The manager of OSI Araba has contacted our team leader; we will see, because we are not going to stop."
The protest centers on a work schedule they deem imposed, forcing them to work overtime. The workers expressed gratitude to patients for their support and understanding during the strike. During a rally in front of Lantarón Town Hall, the UAGA also joined with tractors, showing solidarity with the healthcare workers' demands.
The mobilization appears to have had an impact, as the PP has registered a motion for debate in the General Assemblies of Álava. This motion urges Osakidetza to reverse a situation that, according to professionals, involves cuts in care, closures during holiday periods, and unacceptable working conditions, including 55-hour shifts and rotation between centers that breaks the patient-professional bond, affecting the health outcomes of the rural population.
“"Osakidetza once again demonstrates its poor management. It must work with professionals to develop an appropriate organizational formula for the service in rural clinics, not behind their backs."
The PP representative urged that the change in shifts occur “immediately,” requesting that the specific needs of healthcare personnel be addressed and that closures and reduced hours be avoided, ensuring the maintenance of all clinics in rural Álava. She warned that professionals are considering requesting transfers or leaving their positions, which could further exacerbate the healthcare coverage problem. She demanded more human and material resources from the Basque Government to ensure quality healthcare, emphasizing that “without basic services, villages lose population, and we cannot allow that.”
