Cynthia Busuttil
Nurses' union takes judicial action against former council member
The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has filed a judicial protest against former council member Corinne Ward asking her to withdraw allegations which it felt were aimed to harm the union and its leadership.
The union called on Ms Ward to desist from continuing to harm the MUMN, saying it would be holding her responsible if she did not stop.
After resigning from the council last week, Ms Ward claimed that a government grant of thousands of euros had never been mentioned during council meetings. She said she had only learnt about it after a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi just before March's general election.
Her comments followed a row between the union and a group of former council officials, which was formed last month after the MUMN ordered hard-hitting directives after a dispute with the authorities.
The group is now collecting signatures for a vote of no-confidence in the union leadership, and former union vice-president Tommy Dimech, who is heading the group, yesterday said more than 200 signatures have been collected so far.
In its protest, presented by lawyer Chris Cilia, the union said the allegations and their timing were clearly intended to harm the union as part of an orchestrated effort aimed at undermining its credibility and good reputation.
It asked why Ms Ward was making the allegations now, months after the meeting with Dr Gonzi, during which she claimed to have learnt about the grant.
Moreover, the union said the grant was no secret pact since it was put in writing in a document annexed to the collective agreement signed between the government and the union in October last year.
It said it was inexplicable and incredible how a person who was a member of the union's council was trying to convince people it was unaware of the contents of the collective agreement, which had been discussed by the council before being signed.
It added that the council had provided the government with a detailed study about the need for the grant, which was intended to market the nursing profession. It also said the union had always administered its funds transparently and in the interest of its members.
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Joseph Castillo
Dec 17th 2008, 09:02
In a hospital in UK, where I used to work, there was a hospital wide policy of 'ZERO TOLERANCE' towards aggression on all hospital staff. All areas in the hospital had posters highlighting this policy.
I am not a nurse, but all hospital professions are tough. We are switching from normal working mode to emergency mode in seconds every minute/hour of the day. How many other professions can do that? I am concerned that nurses are airing their grievances in public when their union statute allow them to bring these forward in an extraordinary general meeting.
R.Bezzina
Dec 16th 2008, 21:20
Mr. Grima hope that you are a good nurse, but it is important that all treatment especially chemotherapy (which is toxic and hazardous) will be administered by two nurses to double check each other and this wanted MUMN, the safety of the patient and not as you are misinterpreting that MUMN told nurses not to give treatment. Do not confuse things.
JM Borg
Dec 16th 2008, 19:57
200 signatures as if ... People who signed the petition thought twice as they found out that they were misinformed..when asked to remove their name they weren't given the chance...what democracy... other nursing staff are feeling threated by their superiors ...considering to sign the petition due to ripple effect. Again democracy my foot!
M.Grima
Dec 16th 2008, 19:34
I do agree with A. Cutajar that no one is to be aggrssive towards anyone, but still that does not eqaute with the fact that the nurses at Boffa hospital were told not to care for that particular patient. That is where things went wrong.
But being militant in approach, is not going to help nurses gain any impetus from the population at large. Already we have an image that we are slip shod in appearance and manners, continuuing this on blogs will continue to illuminate this.
We need to show that we are knowledgeable,responsable nurses, utilizing all those skills that the lecturers at the IHC tried to teach and instill in us. I remember Barbara Burkey as the eprson who sparked us all of, after her Isabelle Avallone, Grace Jaccarini, Roberta Sammut, Joanna Depares, Maria Navarro, Vicky Sultana, all trying their best to give us all that they had learnt.
J Busuttil
Dec 16th 2008, 19:00
Well done Mr.Tommy Dimech and for council members of MUMN for the good work in keeping MUMN a true PROFESIONAL union. And on another note MUMN members should note that the 'friendly attitude' being shown by other unions esprcially the LABOUR GWU is only so because in Govt there is the PN. If Labour was in power it would have been a different story. May I take the opportunity to comment on MUT. How can MUT take actions on it's own when it was in CMTU and want us to believe that it wants the unions to unite. All teachers should work to free their union from it's present impasse.
A.Cutajar
Dec 16th 2008, 16:18
MUMN is there for its members and patients. After all if MUMN members will have better conditions together with human resources the end result will be PATIENT SAFETY.
I would like to point out to M Grima 'how would s/he react if while doing his/her duty someone gets aggressive?' Do you take any actions? Harassement of any type or form is UNACCEPTABLE.
These cases do happen and there were other cases similar to this in other hospitals - the same actions were taken, but back at that time the DIRECTIVES were ISSUED by A DIFFERENT PERSON who was AT the Helm. Its a pity that people don't call a spade a spade and they will twist facts as they like.
As regards your comment re; Managers- I will tell this people becareful mates- you need a strong union like you have so take care of it.
M Grima
Dec 16th 2008, 14:26
Yes for all your information I am a nurse. Proud to be a nurse. But sad, that our noble profession is taking such flak. I am all for the promotion of nursing, I am all for the advancement of nursing, but we cannot forget the most fundamental aspect of our profession. The patient!! The patient is the culmination of our work. Believe me, I am no Florence Nightingale, but I firmly believe that if I do not keep the patient at the forefront of my work, than all is lost.
I was once a member of MUMN, but when the first atrocity came along, that nurses at Boffa Hospital were advised by the President not to take care of a certain patient because this patient had been aggressive to a nurse, then I resigned.
I strongly also believe that the Director of Nursing needs to see what is happening, and yes, I applaud Hon John Dalli when he spoke on Dissett saying that he would not give a second thought to employing managers. What are the current nursing managers doing?
lgalea
Dec 16th 2008, 12:26
Steady as she goes MUMN
Be careful from Gonzipn fifth columnists and false flag operations
R Azzopardi
Dec 16th 2008, 12:07
@m grima. Are you a nurse? why Mr dimech didn't contest in the last election so people that they are signing will then at that time vote for him? And what is the truth about the MUMN? that the MUMN is fighting for what the nurses want, i the past 2 years of this council a lot of nurses benefitted from something. The major thing is that the nurses (recently graduates) do not have to work the extra day, Thanks to MUMN, keep up the good job.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Dec 16th 2008, 11:58
M Grima is in favour of new blood...and yet it is the old blood causing all the trouble!!!!!!!!
He must be so confused!!!!!!!
M Grima
Dec 16th 2008, 11:42
Most probably Mr Dimech is telling the nurses the truth about MUMN, that is why they are signing. It is high time that these MUMN officials realise that they need to step down and have new blood at the helm. Good for Ms. ward and Mr. Dimech. At least they are working in the interest of the profession.
R Azzopardi
Dec 16th 2008, 10:06
Oh how good Mr Tommy Dimech is to collect 200 signatures in just a few days. Can he tell us what he is saying to the nurses to make them sign?