The labor dispute at Formentera’s Residencia de Mayores remains unresolved and, more worryingly, without a date for the opening of negotiations with the island’s Consell. Despite repeated requests from UGT to sit down for talks,the insular government has not yet given a clear answer as to when the talks could begin. Meanwhile, the union warns of a progressive deterioration in the quality of care and denounces the lack of concrete measures to improve the situation.
Negotiations blocked since November
The origin of the crisis dates back to November 2024, when the center’s management unilaterally modified the work shifts, a measure that was rejected at the General Negotiating Table. Since then, UGT has insisted on the need to agree on a new schedule, sending several letters to the Consell, the last of them on January 31. In this document, the union demands the maintenance of the current shifts until there is an agreement, recalling that any change without consensus violates Article 37 of the Basic Statute of the Public Employee (EBEP).
UGT complaints: reduction of staff and work overload
Beyond the conflict over schedules, UGT has warned of a reduction in support staff, the elimination of technical guards on weekends and the assignment of nursing tasks to social-healthcare assistants, such as performing cures or injections. According to the union, during night shifts, only one social-health care assistant is in charge of attending to the 18 residents, which they describe as “unsustainable”. UGT has also denounced that several workers have received threats of dismissal, disciplinary proceedings and non-renewal of contracts, which has generated an atmosphere of uncertainty and unease among the staff.
The Consell defends its management but does not give a date for negotiation
In response to these accusations, the Formentera Council has defended the management of the center, assuring that care services are “fully guaranteed”. The councilor of Social Welfare, Cristina Costa, has insisted that the residence has 14 health care assistants for 18 residents, exceeding the minimum ratio established by law. In addition, she explained that the restructuring of schedules seeks to avoid staff burnout due to the long 12-hour workdays. Despite these statements, the union stresses that, so far, no real solution has been given nor has a schedule of meetings been scheduled to address the problem. UGT considers that the Consell continues to delay the conflict without offering clear alternatives.
Lack of progress and complaints to the Labor Inspectorate
The union has taken the case to the Labor Inspectorate, denouncing the working conditions and the lack of institutional dialogue. In addition, the families of the residents have begun to express their concern about the uncertainty in the management of the center, just two years after its inauguration.
No date for dialogue
While the situation drags on, UGT maintains its position of not accepting unilateral changes and demands that the Consell set a specific date for negotiation. “We can not continue to wait indefinitely while working conditions and quality of service deteriorate,” said the union in its latest statement. For the moment, the crisis continues in deadlock, with no solution in sight and no concrete progress to unblock the conflict.
