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| NEWS | Wednesday, 15 August 2007 Public outcry and loss of overtime leads GWU to lift actions Public pressure and complaints from union members missing out on extra income yesterday came together as the General Workers’ Union lifted industrial actions which delivered a blow to patients and the elderly in state hospitals, where nurses were left understaffed.
The industrial actions started two weeks ago when 900 nursing aides and health assistants restricted their normal duties to food-related jobs, leaving nurses unaided in their everyday duties. Yesterday, after the intervention of the Industrial Relations director Noel Vella, the GWU accepted to lift all directives against the Ministry of Health for a three-week period which will serve as a “cooling-off period” pending negotiations. But nursing aides who were a part of the industrial actions complained they were losing money since they were not allowed to work overtime as a result of these directives, this newspaper is informed. Others felt the burden the actions had brought upon nurses and the more vulnerable of patients after a public outcry from concerned relatives further increased the pressure on the GWU to lift the directives. Health Minister Louis Deguara yesterday declared his satisfaction that the actions had been lifted. “Every issue that may arise can only be solved through civilized discussion. Discussions with the GWU will be continuing tomorrow. With the full cooperation from everyone involved we can improve health services so the needs of patients and the elderly will always be satisfied in a more efficient way.” Attempts made yesterday to contact GWU section-secretary Louis Marsh yesterday proved futile. The actions was particularly hard on the elderly at the St Vincent De Paule residence, where wards hosting between 20 to 40 patients were left unattended by nursing aides and health assistants. Any comments? |
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NEWS | Wednesday, 15 August 2007 Elderly keep PN ahead in Gozo Santa Marija – the best beaches in Gozo Bortex will not hire Chinese workers Pöttering stands by refusal to grant MaltaToday access ‘Ghost ship’ drops off immigrants, fishermen claim Marriage breakdowns up by 162 per cent in ten years Census shows women more literate than men The new Maltese – 12,112 foreign nationals granted citizenship French embassy mum as Libya retains nuclear stockpile Medical brain drain to UK reaches highest levels 14 migrants’ bodies found |
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Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email
Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email