Union complaint job harassment in Viana do Castelo home

O Trade Workers' Union, Offices and Services of Portugal (CESP) today announced a public action for Thursday to report job harassment to 12 employees of the home of the Parochial and Social Center of Barroselas, in Viana do Castelo.

Contacted by the agency Lusa, the coordinator of the delegation of Viana do Castelo do CESP, Carmen Carvalho, said that “the workers of the home have been through some very complicated situations in terms of labor rights and some psychological pressure”.

“Our purpose tomorrow [Thursday] is exactly to show the population what is not well. The new management took office about a month or two ago and in about a year and a half, four directions have already fallen. Our mission is to show the population the dissatisfaction and frustration of the workers ", said Carmen Carvalho.

The public action is scheduled for 16:30 at the Parochial and Social Center – Casa São Pedro, in Barroselas.

The case was denounced publicly in September by the former president of the fiscal council of the Parochial and Social Center of Barroselas Ricardo Barbosa who participated in the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) alleged irregularities in the nursing home.

Ricardo Barbosa said he had “strong indications of harmful management, harassment, fraudulent hiring, lack of employees, insufficient care for the elderly and consecutive violation of the institution’s statutes”, presided over by the parish priest.

According to the coordinator of the CESP, the cases of “insufficiency of workers and lack of adequate conditions” were patented “in July and August when the workers underwent eight changes in the schedule”.

“ One of them caught an unjustified fault because they changed her schedule and she was off duty, did not know about the change, did not come to work ", specified.

The union filed a complaint with the Labor Conditions Authority (ACT) which, in August, sent the report of inspections carried out at the institution.

“ The report identifies measures to be taken by the direction of the home, but to this day nothing has changed ", highlighted.

The coordinator of the CESP stated that the absenteeism rate among employees is “very large” because they are “constantly low”.

“They can’t handle the work overload. The institution also cannot hire more workers because it is a small medium”, he explained.

In addition to respect for labour legislation and measures to ensure decent working conditions, the union calls for “safe and quality care” for the elderly.

“ The home situation is unthinkable and requires urgent intervention. Without sufficient workers there are no conditions to care for the elderly with dignity and security ", sustained.

Carmen Carvalho said that the union met with the Viana do Castelo District Social Security Center and was informed that an investigation is ongoing.

“ Just this week they were there again”, he said.

The union met twice with the board, chaired by the parish priest, but without results.

“The priest has no answers,” he observed.

Because it is “a canonical institution the bishop of Viana do Castelo is the last referee in his management”, he shot.

In September, Lusa contacted the Diocese of Viana do Castelo who said she heard, “on several occasions, all the parties involved in this process with a view to resolving the situation and restoring the normal functioning of the institution”.

On the complaints submitted, the diocese referred to “respecting the freedom of its authors and the autonomy of the competent institutions, relying on the ongoing procedures to contribute to the full clarification of the facts and the establishment of the truth”.