Pascale, unions are agitating: "Waiting lists are blocked and overtime funds are exhausted."

Staff in the healthcare and research departments of the Pascale Foundation National Cancer Institute in Naples have declared a state of unrest. This was announced by Uil Fp Napoli e Campania, CGIL Fp, and Nursing Up, following the failure of the cooling-off and conciliation procedures and the administration's failure to convene the meeting.

According to the trade unions, the dispute centers on blocked waiting lists, the depletion of overtime funds, the failure to enforce contracts, and the absence of a company charter and supplementary collective bargaining agreement.

The situation was also discussed at the Prefecture, where worker representatives met with the deputy prefect to outline the critical issues they believe affect the organization of services and research activities at the Naples IRCCS. During the meeting, the immediate opening of a priority negotiating table was called for, but the unions complained they had received no concrete answers from the institute.

According to workers' organizations, organizational shortcomings end up burdening staff, who are required to provide daily assistance and care despite resources deemed insufficient for the activities envisaged by contracts.

Critical issues have also been reported in scientific research, where staff are calling for more transparent planning of activities and greater recognition of the professionals involved.

"We have reached this extreme step because the situation at the Pascale Institute is no longer sustainable," says Vincenzo Torino, general secretary of Uil Fp Naples and Campania. "We are talking about a facility of excellence, whose value in the healthcare landscape is internationally recognized. However, healthcare services and scientific research cannot continue to rely solely on the sacrifice of workers."

Turin points the finger at overtime resources, spending caps, and the failure to define planning and bargaining tools. "We're talking about overtime resources now zero, spending caps that stifle services, unimplemented contracts, and a complete lack of planning, with the failure to finalize the company charter and the 2022-2024 supplementary bargaining agreement," he emphasizes.

Hence the request for an immediate meeting from the administration. "We need an immediate change: protecting the dignity and rights of Pascale staff means directly defending citizens' rights to high-quality oncology care and research," Torino concludes. "We ask the administration to call us immediately. Otherwise, the mobilization will continue in every forum."