After months of negotiation, Spanish trade union UGT has signed a collective agreement for the private health sector in Catalonia (2016 to 2017). The deal covers some 12,000 workers throughout the region.
It includes a 2.5% salary increase, backdated to August 2016. From 1 January 2018, pay rates will rise by a further 0.5%. This 3% raise overall will be the starting point for negotiations in the future.
The settlement also allows staff to request an extra day of annual leave and time off for hospital treatment.
“The pressure and strength of UGT with its negotiating team, workers and delegates in the sector finally secured the green light for this agreement in November,” said a union spokesperson.