Chemists in the Valencia Region have decided to take direct action against regional government by going on strike for three days (December 19, 20 and 21)
Sunday, December 18, 2011 @ 3:31 PM
CHEMISTS in the Valencia Region have decided to take direct action against regional government by going on strike for three days next week (December 19, 20 and 21) after it defaulted on a promised 60 million euro payment to them which was due by December 10.
The agreement to make the payment was reached in November and it was to be part of an ongoing series of payments designed to reduce the massive debt the regional authority has with the chemists and at the same time relieve the cash-flow problems they are experiencing.
To that end chemists from all three province gathered outside the regional tax authority's office in Valencia on Wednesday to protest at the treatment they are receiving but earlier in the day they reached agreeement on the strike action.
This move was decided upon after representatives from the three provinces met with tax councillor, José Manuel Vela, and health councillor, Luis Rosado on Monday.
Following the meeting a spokesman for the chemists, Jaime Carbonell, said that although the meeting was amenable the representatives were told that there was a problem and the 60 million euro payment could not be made until the end of the month, which was unacceptable.
To add to the problem, chemists have said they will start rationing medicines for patients that have chronic conditions in order to reduce their stocks and their debts with the companies that supply them.