Tensions continue in the public health sector as unions and the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) remain in disagreement over a new collective agreement.
Union representatives have requested the involvement of Health Minister Michael Damianos in Monday’s scheduled meeting with SHSO. The threat of a 24-hour strike across all public hospitals remains on the table.
Following a meeting on Thursday, the six unions involved – PASYDY, PASYKI, PASYNO, SEK, PEO, and DEOK – confirmed their dissatisfaction with SHSO’s latest proposal. Sources indicate that whilst some provisions are outright rejected, others require further negotiation.
Doctors’ representatives have raised additional concerns, particularly regarding departmental structure and hierarchy within state hospitals.
SHSO, however, appears unwilling to make further concessions. “We sent our proposal to the unions on Wednesday and invited them for discussions on Monday. We hope for a positive outcome,” SHSO spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou stated.
Despite the impasse, there are signs of progress. For the first time, unions have not rejected SHSO’s new financial proposal outright, including regarding salary increases.
