FRANCE-DEMO/HOSPITAL Hospital staff protest in white coats, reject cuts to rest days

Record ID: 150886

  • Title: FRANCE-DEMO/HOSPITAL Hospital staff protest in white coats, reject cuts to rest days
  • Date: 11th June 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 11, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF CITY HALL PROTESTERS PUTTING STICKERS ON EACH OTHER READING (French): "I LOVE RTT" DUMMY WEARING BLUE OPERATING THEATRE ROBE WITH PARIS HOSPITAL BOSS, MARTIN HIRSCH PROTESTERS CARRYING BANNER READING (French): "PROTECT REST TIME, QUALITY OF CARE GUARANTEED" PROTESTER BLOWING HORN (SOUNDBITE) (French) C
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3W6A4SWT3TRZMLFQ9X2QW118U
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hospital staff in white coats descended on the streets of Paris Thursday (June 11) to protest changes to their working timetable resulting in cuts to time off in lieu they earn working overtime -- known as "RTT".
    After two days of strike action in May, the demonstration targeted French President Francois Hollande whose government is trying to rein in public expenditure, with a planned march on the Elysee Palace.
    The boss of the body that runs hospitals in and around Paris, Martin Hirsch, came in for criticism from the angry crowds representing hospital staff for his plans reorganise timetables to reflect a 35 hour week, with 15 days' off in lieu guaranteed.
    Many in the French labour force are entitled to supplementary days off to compensate for working longer than the 35 hours a week set down in law.
    But Hirsch argues that hospital staff have accumulated a vast backlog of unused off-days which are a burden to the system -- worth 74.7 million euros at the end of 2014 according to local health provider Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris.
    Unions, meanwhile, argue tired staff are less efficient.
    "We want the government not to mess around with healthcare, not to make cuts. You don't make cuts to care, we look after the most impoverished people, just like those with money. That's healthcare, that's France," CGT union representative, Celine Philippart, told Reuters Television.
    "This reform is not good, and it can't happen at the expense of employees," Sud union member Jean-Marc Devauchelle said.
    In exchange, the management of local health provider Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris has promised better working conditions including more training and reinforcement.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register