In a statement sent to the Lusa agency, Sindepor said that it had recently sent a letter to the regional secretary for Health and Sports of the Azores, Mónica Seidi, with "issues for urgent resolution", but claims that "no commitment" was made to resolve the problems.

"In response, the union had only circumstantial words", warns the group, which admits to marking a strike "if nothing is done in the meantime".

“Sindepor/Azores has done everything to ensure that social peace on the part of nurses is not called into question, but, given the inaction that we have registered and out of commitment and respect for our colleagues, the strike could be a reality in September”, adds the regional coordinator of the union, Marco Medeiros.

The lack of nurses, "who are overworked, problems in preparing schedules, delays and accumulation of holidays and overtime", with professionals with "more than 300 days of accumulation", are some of the problems pointed out by the class.

Sindepor points out the urgency of implementing the incentive for nurses to stay, similar to what already happens with other health professionals.

Currently, they say, there are already nurses posted in Santa Maria, Flores and Pico "attracted by this incentive" to settle, but "the non-attribution" of financial support "will lead to the abandonment of these islands by professionals", due to the "high cost of living, the difficulty in finding permanent accommodation and the high cost of renting".

The union is also concerned about specialist nurses - these professionals were "dissatisfied" with their pay position, despite the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) having made "a public promise" to increase the pay scale.

The nurses' career progression process is another issue that concerns the sector.

“This has been a lengthy process, with many promises of an easy and imminent solution, but which has dragged on over time. Therefore, it is not at all desirable for there to be more delay or last-minute requests by the boards of directors, further blocking this dossier”, maintains the coordinator of the Azores of SINDEPOR, quoted in the press release.