MUMN hopeful sectoral agreement discussions won’t lead to further industrial action

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) is hopeful that the sectoral agreement discussions with government won’t lead to further industrial action, Secretary General Colin Galea said, while adding that they can’t completely exclude it.

On July 5, the union instituted directives which were comprehensive and wide-reaching, and include measures related to the washing of patients, the answering of patients’ calls and the transfer of patients for elective operations unless it is for mothers scheduled for a caesarean section. The issues which had led to this action surrounded the Early Retirement Scheme being removed from the discussion table, the amount of Nursing Premium still being low, some grades in the salary structure were not compensated or compensated enough, and miscellaneous points were not adequately addressed.

On July 7, The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses had withdrawn industrial action after government and the Union came to terms on the main points.

Speaking with The Malta Independent yesterday, Galea said that the MUMN has been meeting with the Health Department and the Department related to elderly care everyday for the past two weeks after agreement on the principal points was found with the minister, in order to conclude and enter into the details required to draft the document. He explained that there are two ministries involved in the discussions.

This second part is more hectic than the first, he said, as one needs to ensure that nothing is left out and that everything is concluded.

He said that the MUMN concluded on Thursday, and is currently giving government a week and a half to come back with their feedback.

“We hope we won’t be too far from an agreement, and that we will then sign.”

Yesterday, another issue came to the fore with the MUMN protesting in front of the Public Service Commission, as the union showed concern over the slow paced handling of appointments of Deputy Charge Nurses, after the results showing which applicants were chosen to fill around 120 posts were withdrawn not once, but twice due to mistakes made. While this issue is unrelated, Galea did say that the Union does not intend to escalate this situation at this stage.