The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) and the government met this morning to discuss the issues regarding the increased premium allowance for nurses over which the union has threatened "harsh industrial action".

Although no agreement was reached during this morning's meeting, the ball had been set in motion and more meetings are to follow next week, MUMN president Paul Pace said. Mr Pace said the meeting was cordial but there was still no agreement reached and the union's proposed industrial action had still not been withdrawn.

During the meeting, MUMN voiced its concerns and explained why it could take industrial action. The government put its views forward and will be looking into things before meeting the union for further meetings.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli and parliamentary secretaries Mario Galea and Joe Cassar represented the government while Mr Pace, MUMN general secretary Colin Galea and treasurer George Saliba represented the union.

Nurses have warned they will take "harsh industrial action" within two weeks, which would affect the running of all hospitals, unless they receive the next instalment of an allowance increase in their next pay cheque. The industrial dispute revolves mainly around the €582.34 (Lm250) increase in the nursing premium per annum, which the union says was granted to nurses and midwives in an agreement signed last October. But after receiving two instalments as part of the increase - one in October and another in February - nurses have been informed that the pay due this month will not include the increase.

Earlier this week MUMN said it had planned industrial action that would hit admissions and treatment and have an impact on all types of surgery. The union is determined to issue directives if no agreement is reached by April 21.