The unions have decided to call off the strike scheduled for this Thursday, December 15, in all the archipelago's hospitals, after reaching "an agreement" with the Ministry of Health. However, for the moment the strike calls for January 12, 19 and 26, 2012 remain.
While the extension of the working day to 37.5 hours per week from next year is "non-negotiable" on the part of the Ministry of Health, according to CCOO, "positions are getting closer in redirecting some economic items to hiring, which would reduce the 2,000 fewer jobs that the unions estimate would result from the Canary Islands Government's economic cutback."
Specifically, this extra money, according to CCOO, would come from "a correct management of collection from third parties", which would amount to, according to initial calculations, about 80 million euros. Of this figure, the union maintains that 60 percent would be allocated to hiring personnel (about 28 million) and the remaining 40 percent to material replacements.
Even so, the unions will monitor that the extension to 37.5 hours per week is "something temporary", as it is included as a measure in the 2012 budgets. However, all these issues will be specified soon in a Sectoral Table, which will take place before Christmas.
Also, from the union they point out that this same Tuesday they were able to know that, as of 2012, it will be possible to request a salary advance and that it will be reimbursed in 12 monthly installments.