80% of Nurses Join Public Administration Strike in Funchal

October 24 Strike Aims to Improve Wages and Working Conditions Across Madeira

A national public administration strike is affecting services across Madeira today. Workers are protesting for better pay, career progression, and improved labor conditions. Alexandre Fernandes, leader of the Madeira Union of Trade Unions (USAM), said the strike addresses:

Valuing work and workers, better wages, career progression, the revocation of SIADAP, among other issues that affect the daily lives of workers.

Alexandre Fernandes (USAM), Diário de Notícias Madeira

80% of Nurses Join Strike, Major Health Services & Surgeries Canceled

In the healthcare sector, participation has been particularly high. Juan Carvalho from the Madeira Nurses Union reported that around 80% of nurses have stopped work. At Hospital dos Marmeleiros, 95% of nurses are on strike, leaving only one service running normally. At Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, scheduled surgeries were canceled, outpatient care is limited, and emergency departments are operating at night-shift levels only. Several primary care centers are without nurses or have minimal staffing.

The union official also added that the expectation is that participation will increase in the afternoon, potentially reaching 85%. "In many health centers, only one or two nurses are scheduled to work the afternoon shift, and many of these professionals end up not showing up, increasing the impact of the strike," he explained.

Diário de Notícias Madeira

Union Leaders Denounce Attempts to Discourage Striking Workers

Union leaders report attempts by some officials to reduce strike participation. Fernandes highlighted that some school directors claimed not to have received strike notices and warned that joining could be marked as an unjustified absence. “These attempts, instead of weakening us, give us even more strength and reasons to continue fighting,” he said.

Juan Carvalho from the Madeira Nurses' Union added that the strike combines national and regional demands, including recognition of risk and hardship pay, better performance evaluations, pending salary payments, and increasing nurse staffing to meet regional needs.

Sources:
Diário de Notícias Madeira
Diário de Notícias Madeira