UHM orders industrial action

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin has ordered industrial action at the Medicines Authority claiming the management has not replied to its proposals for the workers' collective agreement.

Joe Bonello, secretary of the UHM's health section, said the authority could not keep on postponing the start of negotiations on the agreement.

He said the same problem existed at Mount Carmel Hospital where social workers and mental welfare officers could not keep on working with a shortage of professional and supporting staff when the workload was increasing.

The union said the workers themselves were having to seek personal assistance to cope with pressures of work.

Mr Bonello said that since issues raised during several meetings with the hospital management had led nowhere the union was ordering action as of tomorrow.