Health Minister Ana Paula Martins convened a last-minute meeting to try to stop the strike at INEM, expressing the intention to avoid the strike "until the last second". The government has been seeking to find a solution that prevents the strike from taking place.
The union representing INEM technicians sent a counter-proposal to the institute, showing a convergence of their positions with those of the management. This gesture was interpreted as a signal of openness to negotiation.
Negotiations are taking place in a climate of tension, with the executive demonstrating concern about the impact that a strike could have on the functioning of emergency medical services in Portugal.
The meeting called by the minister comes as a last resort to prevent the strike from taking place, at a time when the parties appear to be closer to an agreement than initially thought.
