Healthcare Workers Protest at Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella
This morning, the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO) held a protest at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella. The healthcare workers are protesting against the delay in salary payments for about 200 employees of the former Public Business Health Agency (APES). They claim that this delay violates the collective agreement and have announced a strike for February 13th.
Integration of Former Public Business Health Agencies Completed
According to Juan Carlos Navas, the General Secretary of the Health and Socio-health Sectors Union of CCOO in Malaga, the integration of the former Public Business Health Agencies (APES) was completed on January 1st. This process began on the same date in 2022. He further explained that the APES of this hospital includes centers and staff in Benalmádena, Mijas, Marbella, and Estepona, totaling over 200 people with the status of indefinite non-fixed workers by final court ruling.
Conversion to Statutory Staff Denied
Most of these employees have already requested their conversion to statutory staff, but the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) has denied it. As a result, this group remains as “indefinite non-fixed workers” and their working conditions will continue to be those stipulated by the workers’ statute and the collective agreement of the aforementioned Costa del Sol hospital.
Unilateral Decision to Delay Salary Payments
Navas stated that the affected staff are part of the structural staff of the centers, they are not substitutes or temporary, so they should receive their salaries on the last working day of each month. However, he denounced that last week they received unnotified news that the SAS has unilaterally decided not to pay the salary this month, and that it will be delayed to February and so on, meaning they will always receive their salary with a month’s delay.
Strike Announced for February 13th
Due to this, a protest was held this morning at the entrance of the Costa del Sol Hospital and the CCOO has announced a strike for February 13th. Before that, they hope to reach an agreement with the Administration and urgently pay the outstanding salaries of the 200 affected healthcare professionals.
