Workers in the sector gathered this Saturday in Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona to “dignify” their field, claiming that the outsourcing of the service by the Red Cross turns them into a low-cost version of care for the most vulnerable people. Social educators Laia Lazaro and Marina Tort, from CAS Lluís Companys, confirmed that the strike has now reached 43 days.
“"It is true that the Red Cross executes labor discrimination against us, but the Generalitat allows it."
Key demands include salary equalization with other centers performing the same work, recognition of associated workplace risks, and psychological and legal advice for handling potential situations of violence. Lazaro regretted that their center depends on a “social action agreement,” while other similar centers benefit from “health agreements” with better conditions.
“"The colleagues are enduring a rather large emotional and physical burden, but we have reached a point where we considered this was the tool we had to change things."
This situation, which the workers describe as complicated, affects not only the staff but also the users. Tort emphasized that the movement also defends the dignity of these individuals, who often have life stories marked by violence, seeking a better quality of life for them.
