Mediator in hospital parking fee issue

In a bid to resolve the impasse over the hike in parking fees for its members at St Luke`s Hospital, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has enrolled Nationalist MP Mario Galea to mediate in the issue.

Sources said a meeting was held last night between the MUMN and Pietà mayor Malcolm Mifsud, in the presence of the mediator.

Hospital nursing staff have taken action because parking fees at a car park near the hospital were raised from 10 cents to 35 cents per day by Pietà council which administers the car park.

MUMN general secretary Colin Galea said the union was trying to explore every avenue for a possible solution to the stalemate.

"During a meeting with Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi last Monday, the minister appealed for good sense to prevail in this issue.

"The MUMN is looking at this avenue of mediation hoping to reach a solution without having to resort to further industrial action," Mr Galea said.

Last Thursday, the MUMN ordered a two-hour strike by nursing staff at St Luke`s in protest against the parking fee hike.

Earlier this month, the government passed the administration of the car park over to Pietà council. The council has to pay Lm30,000 per year in rent to the Lands Department.

On April 5, the local council said it had not yet arrived at a definite charge for members of the public who use the car park but that hospital employees would be charged 35 cents which includes five cents VAT.

Mr Galea argued that the government should subsidise the parking fee since it would be netting Lm30,000 from the local council.

The General Workers` Union is also objecting to the new parking tariff.