High-level talks between the health authorities and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin have led to a breakthrough in several disputes involving health workers.

Earlier this month the union had ordered industrial action for nursing aides, health assistants, care workers and assistant care workers following a dispute over their collective agreement that has dragged on for several months.

Over the past few years, the union had also registered several other disputes with the health authorities in relation to dentistry, ECG technicians, paramedic aides, ambulance drivers and medical support staff because of lack of parking at Mater Dei Hospital.The UĦM said a number of agreements had been reached, making the announcement in a press release issued yesterday following a four-hour meeting on Friday with Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, Health Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar and high-ranking union officials. UĦM health care section secretary Joe Bonello said the authorities had agreed to give a €1,150 annual allowance to Category A nursing aides, health assistants, care workers and assistant care workers.

This allowance, which will be retroactive to June, had been promised in the collective agreement signed last March.

The government has also promised to issue a call for applications for four dental surgeons and four dental registrars and pay paramedic aides for work they carried out between December 2007 and July last year.

The authorities have pledged to look into parking issues and the union will be preparing a new roster for ambulance workers.