His presence was not expected, but Jean Castex was invited Tuesday evening to "Ségur de la santé", for a decisive meeting with the unions, with a full envelope. With, in the boot of the new Prime Minister, two gestures of goodwill: an extension of more than a billion euros for wages and the addition of "employment issues" to the menu of negotiations.
The surprise was revealed shortly after 7 pm by a tweet from the head of government, accompanied by a photo showing him alongside the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, and the host of "Ségur", Nicole Notat.
Prior to the conclusion of the Ségur de la Santé, I opened the negotiation meeting with the paramedics. I announced an envelope of 7.5 billion euros, and insisted that employment issues also be included in the negotiations. pic.twitter.com/D5pyU02vM6
- Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) July 7, 2020The Prime Minister, who took office on Friday, "showed his commitment", assured his entourage, according to which the unions "stressed that (his) presence was a strong symbol". Above all, he did not come empty handed: "I announced an envelope of 7.5 billion euros," he said, or 1.1 billion more than the envelope proposed the week. last to upgrade non-medical personnel.
This increase "is significant, on a basis that was already historic," insisted the entourage of Jean Castex. The government, which had initially advanced an amount of 6 billion, deemed insufficient by the unions, had already conceded a first extension of 400 million last week.
15,000 job creations mentioned
It remains to distribute this amount between a general increase, targeted "bonuses" and a redesign of premiums. The unions have long demanded an additional 300 euros net for all hospital workers. But the government intends to favor certain professions "in tension" (nurses, nursing assistants, radio manipulators, etc.), including in private establishments, and introduce a share of individual and collective "profit-sharing" in remuneration.
At this stage, "the organizations are not satisfied with the proposals so it must give additional means to get there," reacted a union official Thursday, calling on the Prime Minister to "prove" his attachment to the hospital public service. .
Another twist, Jean Castex says he "insisted that employment issues also be included in the negotiations". While the increase in membership demanded by unions has so far not been part of the discussion, 15,000 job creations are now on the table, according to a union source.
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However, these hirings would be financed from the same envelope as the salary increases. For this, "each hospital will be invited to carry out a shared diagnosis of the situation of its workforce (vacancies, absenteeism, training needs ...) and its activities," said the entourage of Jean Castex.
Castex wants to go fast
The Prime Minister wants to "conclude" quickly the "Ségur", with a "memorandum of understanding" finalized by Thursday, submitted for signature by Friday, according to the same union source. Same tempo for hospital doctors who will be received at the ministry on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Dissatisfied with the 600 million euros of revaluations which were offered to them last week, hospital, internal and student practitioners hope for at least double this.
Other subjects should be the subject of simple recommendations, including investment, for which several billion euros are also mentioned. Decisions are also expected in terms of "simplification", including a rebalancing of power between directors and hospital doctors.
Finally, the “Ségur” had to rethink the territorial organization of the health system, from the much-maligned regional agencies to liberal professionals, who fear being marginalized by a hospital-centered plan. Emmanuel Macron, who will speak on July 14, could himself announce the result of this vast concertation launched at the end of May and supposed to concretize the "massive plan" he had promised at the height of the coronavirus epidemic.
