Midwives have been on strike for a week. The unions denounce maneuvers by the ministry to block the movement.
Since Wednesday October 16, midwives from all over France have been on strike. With “more than 60% of French maternity hospitals following the movement at present, the results are more than positive. And our action is still growing every day, with new strikers joining us, ”says Caroline Raquin, president of the National Organization of Midwifery Unions (ONSSF), contacted by why actor. In this battle that they have engaged with the Ministry of Health, these professionals are notably demanding recognition, by finally achieving the status of hospital practitioner, they who are for the moment still considered as a paramedical profession. But on the side of political fallout, the account is still not there, according to them. Worse, the midwifery unions rebelled Tuesday, October 22 in a statement because their right to strike would be violated in several maternity hospitals!
The ministry suspected of wanting to block the strike
A notice of a national midwifery strike was filed on October 2, 2013 by the French Confederation of Christian Workers (CFTC santé), which covers all fields of health, both public and private sectors. “This did not prevent several establishments, both public and private, from trying to dissuade midwives from going on strike, claiming not to be aware,” the statement said..
When sending a national notice, the monitoring unit of the general management of the healthcare offer (DGOS), should normally forward the information to all regions. However, in several establishments this work has not been done, indicates Caroline Raquin. So who hasn’t done their job? the DGOS? the ARS?
Listen to Caroline Raquin, president of the ONSSF: ” We can assume that the malfunction comes from the DGOS because it still makes a lot of establishments that are not informed … “
“Pressure, even blackmail of HRD”
In addition, even if Caroline Raquin and the midwives feel in most establishments supported by their management, the president nevertheless tells us about certain unfortunate episodes that have taken place. In some maternity hospitals, she indicates that hospital administrations have tried to violate the right to strike of these professionals. “Pressures, even blackmail of HRD have been reported to us “, she confides.
Listen to Caroline Raquin, President of the ONSSF: ” This is very serious, the right to strike is a fundamental constitutional right.… “
The strike movement strongly disrupts maternity hospitals
With 90% of the midwives on strike at the Kremlin-Bicêtre hospital (94) or even 100% at the Louis-Mourier hospital in Colombes, where Caroline Raquin works, no need to say that this strike is extremely well attended by midwives. And this movement is already seriously disrupting the functioning of maternity hospitals. On strike, as is the case in some maternity hospitals, midwives are assigned to a minimum emergency service. In these establishments, midwives are now only present in the delivery room. In all the other services, consultations, pathological pregnancies, after-births, there is no longer any of these professionals available.
Listen to Caroline Raquin, President of the ONSSF: ” Now, you only practice what you are trained for. For example, as soon as we have to prescribe a treatment that is not within our competence, we call a doctor …“
The only positive note in this conflict, Caroline Raquin admits that contact was made Tuesday with the Ministry of Health. The latter says he is working closely on the file. “It’s a hope for us, we see that the door is therefore not completely closed “, she concludes
.
