As part of the campaign for the reinstatement of 107 Catalan 061*
service workers fired in March, a couple dozen activists from the CNT
occupied the headquarters of the Department of Health on the afternoon
of July 23 to demand a meeting with the System of Medical Emergencies
(SEM).
(*Note: 061 is the phone number to dial for medical emergencies.)
For some months, the Syndical Section has been carrying out a series
of legal and union actions against the company ATENTO, which manages
the service, to denounce the injustice and illegality of the firings.
Because of the reluctance of the company to negotiate with CNT, it
was decided to escalate the struggle, while also pressing the Department
of Health, which is also considered responsible for the situation of
the dismissed comrades. It is unacceptable that the Department supports
the attitude of ATENTO, allowing the company to systematically ignore
the rights of their workers, in a service so essential to the welfare of
the population like the SEM.
On account of the SEM’s continued refusal to meet with workers, the
CNT decided to occupy the premises of the Department of Health to demand
a meeting to address the situation of the redundant workers. The
occupation went absolutely smoothly, without incident. The occupiers
waited inside while our comrades met with representatives of the
Department.
At the same time, about fifty people gathered at the gates of the
Department to show solidarity with the dismissed workers and support the
action of the occupiers. With a playful but combative spirit, the
protesters performed a small play which satirized the management of
industrial relations in the 061 by ATENTO and SEM. Later, a manifesto by
the Syndical Section was read denouncing the unfair situation of
workers and, finally, an effigy of the Health Councillor, Marina Geli,
was hung, symbolizing the workers’ relentless condemnation of the way of
managing the Catalan health system and in particular the emergency
medical service. The demonstrators also unfurled a banner calling for
participation in the assembly of September 15 in Plaça Universitat
convened by the Workers’ Assembly of Barcelona.
After fixing a meeting for next Tuesday, the occupiers left the
building and joined the protest, communicating the success of the action
to their comrades and leaving peacefully.
The CNT will continue to act by all means at its disposal to undo the
dismissals and to achieve the reinstatement of the comrades. However,
we consider it important to emphasize that our struggle is not only for
the defense of a few jobs , a defense made more and more necessary by
the current offensive of the bosses and government; it is also a
struggle to ensure the quality public services for the people and
against the covert privatization of these services.
Finally, we would like to thank all the comrades of the CNT from
diferent regional unions and the Forestry Workers Union from CNT
Guaites, CNT-Catalunya, the CGT trade union section in ATENTO, En Lluita
and in general, to thank all who participated and supported the action.
