This request follows statements by Minister Marciano Gómez, who has indicated he is seeking formulas for its application to all healthcare, administrative, and technical staff in Valencian public health. The union recalls that the agreement for the 35 hours was signed with the previous administration and initially accepted by the current one, but Gómez has gone back on his word, postponing the measure until 2027, according to SATSE, with electoral intentions.
SATSE believes that the reduction in working hours must necessarily be linked to an increase in the number of nurses and auxiliary nursing care technicians (TCAE) in hospital wards. In Primary Care and for hospital medical staff, the change could involve transforming Saturdays into on-call shifts, with the corresponding increase in remuneration. However, the situation is very different in other care areas.
In hospital wards, emergency rooms, ICUs, and other services, if there is no increase in nursing and TCAE staff, the reduction in working hours will inevitably lead to an increase in the number of patients assigned per shift. This will result in increased care pressure, a greater workload in less time, and a decrease in patient health safety.
The union warns that it will report this situation where appropriate and will take necessary measures to ensure that the implementation of the 35 hours is carried out equitably for all staff. In some sectors, through increased remuneration for on-call shifts, and in others, through increased staffing. Otherwise, hospital nurses and TCAEs will be severely affected, as has been the case since the arrival of this administration, which has not increased staff or resolved the existing hourly debt.
Furthermore, SATSE emphasizes that this new push must be accompanied by real guarantees that can only be achieved by negotiating the terms and deadlines in the Health Sector Table, and with the assurance that it will be implemented with a corresponding increase in staff to maintain care quality and patient safety. The Minister of Health has acknowledged that the effective implementation of the 35 hours would require the incorporation of professionals to compensate for the annual reduction in hours. The replacement of sick leave, holidays, and permits would also be necessary, ending the administration's practice of making workers assume the work of those who are absent.
The union hopes for a real negotiating shift from the Valencian Ministry of Health for a correct implementation of the 35 hours, and that it will not choose to renounce negotiation with union organizations, a practice that, unfortunately, is becoming common.
