- The union has stated that it wants to protect "the health, life and right to physical integrity" of workers. The counselor described the situation in some nursing homes in Gipuzkoa as "dramatic" and called for Osakidetza's intervention.
ELA will report on the situation of workers in Iurreamendi residences in Tolosa, Argixao de Zumarraga and San José de Ordizia. You and I, Mr S. Coop, Gerozerlan and Eulen are the socio-sanitary companies that manage the residences, subcontracted, and whose ownership corresponds to the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. The union will register the three lawsuits on April 14 at the Social Court of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
ELA will ask the court “to protect the right to health, life and physical integrity of workers” and to impose a fine on companies for each day of non-compliance. “Despite repeated trade union requests, residential workers do not have all the personal protective equipment, and residences where all users are tested are still an exception.” The claims shall also require precautionary measures such as approved protection measures for each worker or the testing of all workers. In addition to the three abovementioned residences, the union has announced that next week it will bring lawsuits against more residences in other countries.
Osakidetza’s intervention in the “dramatic” situation
ELA says coronavirus contamination in Basque households is “critical”, so it calls for an “urgent and comprehensive intervention” by Osakidetza. “In the nursing homes Iurreamendi de Tolosa, San José de Ordizia or Iturbide de de Arrasate, the positive users of Covid-19 have reached 80%, and the affected or low workers represent a third of the team. According to the Council’s data, in Gipuzkoa, the deceased in nursing homes are over 90; in Gipuzkoa, 70% of the deceased have been in nursing homes.”