No work from 31 July, the approximately three dozen workers at Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPI’s) of Beja of the Portuguese Red Cross (CVP) stopped talking, but they still gathered on Friday afternoon at the Henry Dunant Nursing Home, to alert civil society and protest against their dismissals.
After last day's protest 15 June, silently, ERPI’s professionals held posters that read: “Portuguese Red Cross workers fighting for their rights”. This demonstration ends a painful week, since during its course the professionals who in recent years have been the face of the institution in the city of Lower Alentejo, received dismissal letters, sent by the CVP National Directorate.
In some of the cases, puts an end to a working relationship of more than 30 year old. No other professional solution in sight, It is up to female workers to resort to unemployment to ensure financial survival.
Users' families also received a letter from CVP confirming the closure of the institution's home on the last day of this month., featuring a series of alternative homes, justifying the institution that “alternatives have been identified to relocate all users of the institution, no other solutions or vacancies were identified or proposed.”, added that the deadline for responding will be the day 14 July.
Attached was a list of institutions where there are 20 vacancies, as many as necessary to relocate users, are there 7 vacancies in Barrancos, 4 in Évora and a vacancy in Montemor-o-Novo, Caparica Charneca, Vila Nova da Barquinha, all locations more than 100 miles of Beja.
There is also a reluctance on the part of users' families to talk about the subject, They don't want to show their face but say with anguish and tears that they have two options: “or I put my family member away and see them every fortnight or month to month, or took him home, without the necessary care conditions”, said one of the people interviewed by Lidador NotĂcias (LN).
When CVP was asked what would happen to those who did not have any response, it was reinforced that “the institution, together with Social Security, has done everything to overcome the situation. Up day 14 they have to give an answer about whether they accept one of the proposed institutions or what type of solution was found for their family member”, remataram.
The National Directorate of the Portuguese Red Cross has scheduled a meeting for next Monday where it will provide all clarifications and doubts that may exist from users' families..
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
