Florentino Pérez’s Group Expands Management of Public Nursing Homes Amid Labor Disputes in Gipuzkoa

Key Takeaways

• Zaintzen, a subsidiary of Florentino Pérez’s ACS group, currently manages four public nursing homes in Gipuzkoa under the oversight of the provincial body Kabia.
• The outsourcing model, where public institutions own facilities but private firms manage operations, has faced significant criticism regarding service quality and working conditions.
• Nursing home staff have engaged in indefinite strikes, citing wage gaps, excessive part-time contracts, and deteriorating care standards.

Labor Conflicts

• The ELA union reports that labor conditions have worsened since Zaintzen took over the San José facility in Ordizia.
• Workers have protested against layoffs, staff reductions, and cuts in services such as heating and food quality.
• Previous management contracts for other facilities, including in Zumaia and Pasaia, have also been marked by long-standing disputes and accusations of profit-seeking at the expense of social services.

The Outsourcing Model

• In Gipuzkoa, 87.9% of nursing home places are considered public, yet the vast majority are managed by private entities.
• The provincial government prioritizes outsourcing to private companies, which often compete on price to secure contracts, leading to concerns about the erosion of direct public control.
• Beyond elderly care, the Pérez group holds significant contracts for domestic assistance and cleaning services for public buildings across the region, sparking debate over the influence of large private operators in public administration.