The main unions in residential care in the Galicia region, UGT, CC.OO. and CIG, have formed a common front to mobilise and put pressure on private nursing home companies, which they accuse of blocking the negotiation of a new collective agreement to replace the one that expired at the end of 2019. The series of mobilizations will end on 19 May with a demonstration outside San Lázaro residence in the Galician capital, run by the DomusVi French care multinational. The unions point out that pay scales mean that effectively some jobs are set below the minimum wage with pay for kitchen assistants and cleaning staff only €946 gross per month, while nursing assistants are on €1,031 and nurses on €1,263 for nurses. The unions argue that it is no surprise there are staff shortages when pay is so low and the rates are €300-400 less than the public sector. They are also challenging the idea that pay increases should be limited to inflation or economic growth, arguing that such essential jobs should not be restricted to business indices.
Private care unions mobilise to get new collective agreement
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