UHM intensifies action at hospital

Industrial action ordered by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin at the Mater Dei Central Sterile Services Department is being intensified as from Tuesday, the union said.

Action is currently being taken by nursing and paramedic aides, health assistants and care workers at the hospital's central sterile supply and medical imaging departments. The UHM is arguing the government had agreed to pay staff in the X-ray department and the sterilisation unit a yearly allowance of €1,150 that any workers in contact with patients were entitled to.

About 100 workers are claiming they were not being given this allowance. Their actions were criticised by the nurses' union as "unjustified" and "unethical" because, it said, they were interfering with the work of nurses to the detriment of many patients.

The UHM said that the Social Policy Ministry was insisting on its position and it was failing to recognise the work being done by these workers.

Besides not giving any patient-related treatments, these workers have now been ordered not to answer the phone.