More than 30,000 Andalusian doctors are called again to strike against the Government

The majority of Iberdrola’s workforce in Castilla-La Mancha has joined a nationwide general strike, according to recent reports. Approximately 500 employees in the region have participated in the walkout, which was organized by the unions UGT FICA and CCOO Industria. The strike took place with demonstrations in several cities including Toledo, Albacete, and Motilla del Palancar in the province of Cuenca. This action highlights growing tensions between workers and management, as well as broader labor disputes across Spain.

In addition to the energy sector, medical professionals across Andalusia have also been called to participate in a new round of strikes. Around 30,000 doctors, along with residents (MIR) and non-medical staff, have been mobilized since Monday to support the latest week of protests against the government. These strikes aim to push for a comprehensive framework statute that would address their specific demands and concerns. The current strike will continue until Friday, the 19th of June, marking another significant wave of industrial action in the country.

The conflict between medical unions and the Ministry of Health has escalated significantly over the past weeks. With this being the fifth week of strikes this year, the situation appears to be heading toward a full-blown confrontation. The newly agreed-upon Statute Framework, negotiated between Health Minister Mónica García and the medical unions, has not satisfied the latter. In response, the Strike Committee has warned of an indefinite strike after the summer if there are no tangible improvements in negotiations.

Tensions reached a peak when García accused the unions of not being transparent with healthcare professionals about the benefits included in the proposed Statute Framework. She claimed that during recent meetings, the unions had focused more on their union demands rather than the actual needs of the medical staff. This accusation came amid a demonstration held by several major medical unions outside the Ministry's headquarters in Madrid under the banner "No more mistreatment of patients and professionals."

Despite ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Health, the unions argue that there has been a complete lack of proposals from the government side, leading to a stagnation in resolving the long-standing dispute. They believe that the Ministry's insistence on proceeding with the drafting of the Statute Framework without addressing these issues has prompted them to escalate their actions. If no progress is made, they threaten to initiate an indefinite strike following the summer break.

From the perspective of the Ministry of Health, however, the work has already been done. Officials emphasize that the most ambitious labor reform in health care in two decades has been proposed, and now it is up to the autonomous communities to implement the necessary changes. The Statute Framework will eventually reach Congress, where it can be amended and voted upon like any other law. Nevertheless, the core aspects such as staffing planning, organization, and salary structures remain within the jurisdiction of the regional governments.

Throughout the upcoming days, further protests are planned, including demonstrations in front of the health departments in the Valencian Community on Wednesday and in Madrid on Thursday. Additionally, there will be gatherings at numerous hospitals and health centers in regions such as Andalusia, Galicia, Euskadi, Melilla, La Rioja, Extremadura, Balears, Aragon, Alicante, and Castellón, as well as in front of several provincial delegations of the Government.

While national strikes have often aligned with regional ones targeting Mónica García, the regional ministers opted last week to highlight the minister's isolation. The Basque Country's health minister, Alberto Martínez, expressed this sentiment explicitly, noting that García had become isolated after the other regional governments had previously agreed on a joint statement. This statement, signed by all regions except Catalonia, demanded that the minister negotiate directly with the striking doctors and implement necessary reforms. Although Catalonia later issued a communication expressing agreement with the content, the overall message remained clear: the regional authorities were not willing to back the central government's position fully.