Basque Government Faces Blocked Social Security Talks and Health Worker Strikes

Lehendakari Imanol Pradales postponed a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after negotiations on several Social Security competencies were stalled. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) accused State Secretary for Social Security Borja Suárez of blocking the talks, describing his stance as driven by an “ideological” and “traditional” view of the system.

At the same time, the health workers' union ELA announced a series of strikes and rallies in Osakidetza, demanding the renewal of a collective bargaining agreement that has not been updated for more than 17 years. The union warned that the Basque Health Department lacks the political will to address structural problems and cited a recent pact with the SME as evidence that improvements are possible when there is “voluntary political will.”

Both episodes highlight growing tensions within the Basque administration over social‑security reforms and labour conditions in the regional health service.