GWU on health workers' agreement

The General Workers' Union is accusing Government and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin of threatening industrial democracy.

In a statement, the union said the government was disrespecting the will of most nursing aides, health assistants and care workers by signing an agreement with the UHM which was not supported by the majority of personnel.

The GWU condemned this attempt to give workers what they did not want - workers were even following industrial action as ordered by the GWU some days ago.

The case relates to disagreement on three issues the GWU had with the hospital management: a premium for the three categories of workers, the new nursing aides and care workers roster, and the nursing aides' scale.

The government had offered an allowance of up to Lm195 for care workers but did not offer anything to other grades. The GWU said this was unacceptable.