The workers' committee of the Balàfia I and II care homes demands that the Generalitat take direct management of both facilities due to the risk of privatization. They claim that GSS is not applying the Gercat agreement and that investments are not benefiting the service.
The uncertainty regarding the future of the Balàfia I and II care homes in Lleida continues to grow. The workers' committee has formally requested the Generalitat to take direct management of both centres, after the Department of Social Rights decided not to automatically renew the concession to the public company Gestió de Serveis Sanitaris (GSS) starting from 31 December and plans to put the management out to tender, which could open the door to privatization, according to segre.com.
The secretary of public services of UGT in Lleida and advisor to the committee, Bea Bonilla, has been responsible for conveying the workers' stance. Bonilla has warned that if the concession model to a public company has not worked, allowing the entry of any private operator will not be the solution either.
“The Generalitat is allocating a lot of money to care homes where investments are not reflected in the service, and the Minister of Social Rights stated in the Parliament that he does not intend to lower the ratios,” Bonilla declared.
The origin of the conflict lies in the decision of Social Rights not to extend GSS's management. Sources from the department have explained that the more healthcare-oriented model of the public company does not fit with the “person-centred” system of care homes they are promoting. Minister Raúl Moreno even stated in Parliament that “there were some deficiencies in GSS's management.”
Bonilla has also highlighted the working conditions. According to the union representative, GSS “has refused for the last four years to apply the salaries of the Gercat agreement,” claiming that the care workers of Balàfia I and II are public employees, although they do not enjoy the conditions typical of this group.
“We need the Generalitat to control the funds allocated to social services, as companies are profiting at the expense of the workers' efforts, who take on commitments that exceed their miserable salaries,” Bonilla asserted.
The management of the centres has reportedly argued in meetings with the committee that salary increases are impossible due to the economic deficit of the facilities. The manager of GSS, Oriol Yuguero, has stated that he still does not know the conditions of the new tender, but has indicated that his intention is to apply to continue managing the centres, “unless there is a very drastic change.” Yuguero defended that “we do not have any official document identifying deficiencies or negligence” and added that they respect a possible change of model.
The Generalitat's decision directly affects the workers of the care homes and the elderly residents, as well as their families in Lleida. The workers' committee has demanded that the management model be clarified before the current concession ends on 31 December, to ensure the continuity of service and decent working conditions.
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