A three-day general strike began this Monday in the health and education sectors of Guinea-Bissau, said Sene Jassy, a spokesman for the movement that brings together trade unions from both regions.
According to the union leader, “the strike has taken place” due to the government’s “lack of interest” in sitting at the negotiating table since the presentation of the statement of demands on February 5 and the advance notice of the strike. 5th of March.
“We think that the government wants to see the consequences of the strike first, and only then sit down at the negotiating table with us. Unfortunately, we can say that it is the government that wants the strike to take place,” Sene Jassi said.
The Social Front’s list of demands includes, among other things, the payment of 10 months’ salary arrears for teachers and health workers, the hiring of new employees hired by the government for both sectors, the creation and adoption of a new school curriculum. as well as improving working conditions.
“Today, a person goes to the hospital and does not get a reliable test because the laboratory does not have medical diagnostic equipment,” Jassy said.
Clinical director of the Simão Mendes National Hospital, Abel Mactar da Silva, admitted that the strike was “restricting services” at Guinea-Bissau’s main medical unit.
The person in charge said the hospital had developed a “minimum care” strategy for patients to avoid “tragedies like in the past” when during strikes patients did not receive care “and many people died.” .
Braima Sambu, president of the grassroots union Simão Mendes, explained that all services “have a minimum of services” but warned that assistance “will only be provided in urgent cases.”
“For example, a caesarean section in the maternity ward, an accident in which bleeding occurred,” Sambu emphasized.
The president of the mass union, Simão Mendesa, warned that if an agreement was reached between the government and the Social Front, the hospital’s minimum services would be further reduced.
A Civil Service Ministry source told Lusa that the government was “open” to dialogue with the Social Front, “as it has always been,” but could not explain whether it would convene the Social Front in the coming days.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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