Doctors strike continues

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In late 1998, the SIM Portuguese doctors' trade union announced that its "self-service" strike will continue until the year 2000. The self-service strike involves doctors deciding individually on what day and at what hours they will strike. The strike has aroused debate because of its unique nature and its impact on the public, presaging changes in the way that professional unions in Portugal conduct disputes.

In December 1998, it was announced that the industrial action called by the Independent Union of Doctors (Sindicato Independente dos Médicos, SIM) in August-September 1998 until the end of the year (PT9809196N) has once again been extended, this time until January 2000. The extension is due to what the SIM calls a lack of response to the union's demands. The strike is directed against the public health administration, with doctors working a full 35-hour weekly workload demand to be paid at the "index rate" of 100, whether or not they work exclusively for the state. Another doctors' union, the National Federation of Doctors (Federação Nacional dos Médicos, FNAM), had negotiated a revaluation of the salary scale index with the Ministry of Health during the summer, but SIM left the negotiating table and called for strikes.

The industrial action organised by SIM is known as a "self-service" strike, due to its unusual nature. In Portugal, strikes are normally preceded by advance notification. In this case, the SIM has called a strike in which the physicians can strike individually at any given time. Any physician, whether or not a member of the union, may join in the strike.

According to the public health administration, adherence to the self-service strike in the month of October 1998 was between 2% and 6% daily. Operating theatres, particularly in Lisbon and Oporto, and some specialities such as anaesthesia were hardest hit. According to the press, the number of surgeries in some hospitals, such as Santo António do Porto, dropped by 34.4% in October and by even more in certain specialities - 77% in orthopaedics and 78% in otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat).

The doctors' strike has captured the attention of the media not only because of its nature but also because of the impact it has had on the population, given the long waiting lists for health services. In general, participation the strike has been low but given the unpredictability of this type of strike it has had serious consequences for patients.

Questions have arisen as to whether the self-service strike falls within the correct legal boundaries of a strike. Some specialists in constitutional law have pronounced the strike illegal because of its unpredictability. Meanwhile, the Minister of Health has talked of reopening negotiations but has not mentioned the possibility of a "civil conscription" back-to-work order. According to the doctors, minimum essential services are being provided. Surgical interventions are being performed on an emergency basis and others are being evaluated case by case. There is great concern about the situation and the President of the Republic has issued an appeal to resolve the conflict.

Organisations representing doctors in Portugal include the Medical Association (Ordem) and the trade unions. The Medical Association's objectives are to defend the moral and ethical principles of the profession, while the unions deal with aspects of the work relationship. Despite a lack of coordination among the activities of organisations representing doctors, there has been contact between them in this case.

Meanwhile, other occupational groups, namely veterinarians in charge of public slaughterhouse inspections and some delivery workers in the postal service (CTT), went on strike over Christmas 1998.