Despite an opening by the Minister of Health on a possible status of hospital practitioner for midwives, consensus did not take place. The strike that began two months ago continues.
While they have been on strike for more than two months, this is the first time that the midwives of the Collective (1) have spoken of “real progress” in the discussions they have initiated with the Ministry of Health. Health at the beginning of the month on the future of the profession. Unhappy with their current status, these midwives still claim access to the status of hospital practitioner. Because for the moment, these health professionals are considered paramedics with a salary well below that of hospital doctors. But, by hardening the movement in recent days, using in particular in some maternities the stoppage of work as a means of escaping requisitions, midwives are apparently in the process of winning their case.
A desire for dialogue
First of all, at the end of a new meeting with the midwifery unions, Marisol Touraine decided to continue the work started on the evolution of the statute until the end of March 2014. In addition, the Minister s he is delighted that the discussions were held in a “constructive and peaceful” climate, and reiterated to the unions and the collective its desire to dialogue with midwives.
In the end, it is clear that this time, the Minister wanted to calm the debate. She presented a series of concrete proposals on the recognition of the specific medical skills of midwives in hospitals, such as their place in the bodies, their assessment and the possibility of exercising functional responsibility in certain sectors.
2 scenarios under study
In addition, regarding the status of hospital midwives, she found that while everyone agreed that it should evolve, there was no consensus on the modalities. Marisol Touraine therefore sent back to back the two groups of midwives who disagreed about the future of the profession. “We need the right time. I have decided to deepen the work started on the two scenarios by the end of March ”, declared the Minister. As a reminder, two scenarios are possible. The first, led by the Collective, consists of leaving the hospital public service to make midwives into hospital practitioners. The second, proposed by the major union branches, consists of creating a medical branch within the hospital public service (FPH).
In reaction, the Collective led by the Onssf (2) confirmed through the voice of its president, Caroline Raquin, that their request to become a hospital practitioner would finally be discussed in the future. “Our demand to integrate medical personnel into the hospital has been heard since we are going to work with these medical professionals around the table,” said the trade unionist. We have the feeling of having finally been heard. It takes a lot of weight off and I think it will do the midwives a little bit of good, ”she continued. Pending the Minister’s decision, the Collective nevertheless called for the strike movement to continue.
(1) ONSSF, CNSF, CTFC santé sociaux, National Association of Midwives, Cnema, SNECMA, Anesf
(2) National Trade Union Organization of Midwives
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