MUMN orders widespread industrial action by nurses

First of all, I would like to stress that I do not agree with patients suffering because of industrial actions, as happened in the 70's. However in such cases, is the patients' suffering due to the nurse's directives, or the Government's stubborness? of which we've seen quite alot recently!

Noel Barry....You complain that you did not have the right to strike, and on the other hand, take the nurses to task for striking...it does sound rather confusing!

Do you also think that because of improvements in the past, workers do not have the right to ask for better conditions in the future?

So no worker should have the greed to ask for better conditions, because his employer was kind enough to improve them ten years ago? my oh my! Are you proposing a condition freeze?

As for JFarrugia, well, what can I say...

If the teachers ask for better conditions, he's against them and wants war.

If the dock workers have an issue, he's against them and wants war.

If its Nurses, he's against them and wants war.

Is he suggesting that workers should not have the right to resort to industrial action if their employer is the Government?

What if all nurses are removed from the out patients department and other reception duties and posted in wards on shift. These may be replaced by clerical staff. Or at least, one nurse is kept in every out patient department to assist if necessary, what will the MUMN and the nurses themselves have to say. And I ask all those who are calling this goverment arrogant. Where were you in the 70s and 80s when no one could even protest because he was beaten or transfered. At least now everyone can have the liberty to protest and strike without any consequences.

I call on all nurses and union top people to make a study visit to Sweden and see how problems are solved here. For a start unions do not take out personell in strike if it hurts the third person. secondly if nurses should see the work load done by swedish nurses they would forgot about claims for strikes. The mentallity in sweden is that the nurses are there to serve the patients and not the other way round.This mentallity goes in every labour force. and accepted by all unions. This is why we have few strikes if any in sweden.This mentalilty is taught to the individual and everyone one knows that everyone is a loser by striking.! both the worker and the country.

Another disgrace!!!! Due to this antisocial GonziPn Government, incompetence is reigning. Patients are suffering from such actions and Government should act without losing more time.

Why disputes need to escalate?!?

Dr Gonzi, please wake up!!! Get around table and negotiate the long outstanding issues as requested by the MUMN.

You all seem to have forgotten the Mintoff era when no one had the right to strike, and if they did strike they were beaten. This happened to me at Air Malta when I went out on a one day strike, ordered by the UHM, in sympathy of the teachers. I was locked out of work for a whole month and only returned on the intervention of the Director of Labour. Oh, almost forgot. When I went back to work I found around 20 Air Malta thugs armed with iron bars and chains, ready to attack me. It was only when the police were called in that I managed to get to my office. And my protest did not effect any patients, like the nurses are doing. I just cannot understand how you bloggers are encouraging this protest against the goverment. Why don't you ask them who increased their salaries and who gave them better working conditions.

Prudence is a virtue...

On a slightly different tone,as far as the government goes, I'd say:
You have some very good and dedicated nurses who work hard to ensure that patients' recovery is seamless & rapid,often taking over from the doctors completely if that benefits the patient!All they ask for I'd to be allowed to work to THEIR full potential (re:strike held few weeks ago by A&E nurses) &to be given decent work conditions so as to treat patients better. And yet you take it as a joke,& ignore them!! You are truly unappreciative . And soon enough the Department will start to bleed nurses as it does doctors!! Guess whose fault that is-then again, I doubt you care!

I would like to try and reassure everyone that no innocent person will get hurt because of the Union's directives.This is certainly not the first of its kind &, frankly,we've survived worse!Such directives will have two outcomes:1) the good,hardworking nurses (of whom there are MANY) will still care for the sick regardless,&ensure they are treated just as if these directives had never been issued;2) the nurse who sees his job as just that will work to rule,adding to the pressure on the doctors or other health professionals,& the patient is treated anyway!!
So,please rest with the knowledge that no patient has ever suffered as a result of the MUMN,& that is no thanks to the union.
What I find strange is:if no patients are transferred to ZCH/SVPR,where do yu think they'll be?? You increase the pressure and workload on the staff working in Malta's ONLY Acute hospital!!well thought of MUMN!!

Can MUMN representative answer a few questions?
1. How many nurses are absent from proper work duties because they are attending University courses or continued education courses? Does he consider stopping these courses for a while to alleviate the pressure of work he claims there is in hospitals.
2. How many nurses are performing part-time work with private agencies immediately after a full days/night shift work and then report for proper work exhausted or report sick?
3. How many nurses are requesting to work overtime and are not being enrolled?
Comment- So where is the shortage of nursing staff?

A very holy way to preach solidarity with those who are suffering. The right to strike does not mean the right to make people suffer

Way to go MUMN. When you're dealing with an intransigent government with an arrogant and an I'm-right-you're-wrong mindset, and when there's no hope of getting anywhere with civil discussions, don't falter. If you are convinced you're right, take any appropriate action (with minimum collateral damage) until the arrogance dissipates and reason prevails. There's just no other way to go.

J Farrugia,
Would you do the same if it was YOU who was fighting for your rights?

Edwin Formosa
Would you fight for YOUR rights or not against an intransigent Government?

Good luck on you to stand up for your rights against the government but please don't hurt the common citizens because of this stubborn government.
Keep in mind that low income earners - old people- less noticed man / woman on street will be affected.

Inspired by Florence Nightingale

Attention nurses. Your leaders seem to be looking for a fight and you'll get one. The patient is supreme. Don't forget that. Otherwise get out of the hospital and go home without pay. You have absolutely no right to do this to those in need of help. God forbid if ever a patient needs your attention and you let him down. The Patient is supreme. I defended you when medical staff were attacked but I won't be on your side on this one. The union is not right in doing this to those who need medical help.