Talks resume on nursing aides' dispute

The government and the General Workers' Union yesterday resumed talks over the nursing aides' dispute, holding a 90-minute meeting in the morning.

GWU section secretary Louis Marsh said after the meeting that the government was adopting a less rigid position.

John Cachia, the director general for health care services, said the meeting had been cordial but added that it was too early to comment on what had been discussed.

He said the meetings were set to continue and a sub-committee would be tackling the technical issues.

The meeting was held between delegations from the GWU, the health and finance ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister.

The resumption of negotiations comes after both sides were last week laying down strict conditions for talks to restart.

Industrial action by nursing aides, health assistants and care workers was called off last Tuesday for the talks to go on after a 12-day period during which these categories of staff were only carrying out food-related duties in hospitals and homes for the elderly.

The spectre of two more weeks of action had also been raised at one point when union officials said no meetings could be held due to travel plans.

The GWU is insisting that nursing aides should be put on wage scale 13. The dispute also revolves around their roster and their allowance.