Health Minister assures that the agreement will be honoured

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin is threatening to take industrial action next week if the government does not honour an agreement signed in February 2013 which gives better conditions to allied health workers, some 800 employees which were previously known as paramedical staff.

Sources told The Malta Independent that the UHM is to meet Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi this afternoon and, unless some form of arrangement is hammered out,  in what has been described as a make or break meeting, the union is prepared to issue directives to its members.

The original agreement in question was reached a month before the election, and one year later it has not been implemented.

Part of this agreement stipulates that those who have obtained a Masters degree or have the grade of Assistant Principal are automatically placed in Scale 7 of the civil service. Although there are employees who already qualify for this entitlement, none of them have been promoted, the sources said.

Another clause states that 16 persons were to be promoted to the post of managers, but until today they have not been given the appointment.

Through this collective agreement professionals who had two-year experience should have been automatically promoted to scale but, again, nothing of the sort has materialised, the sources said.

They added that the 800 workers fully agreed with what was negotiated but are extremely disappointed that the government is not honouring it.

Allied health workers consist of 800 professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and medical lab scientists.

Agreement will be honoured 

Speaking at a press conference today, Health Minister Konrad Mizzi assured that the pre-election agreement will be honoured.

Source:

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-04-25/news/uhm-in-make-or-break-meeting-on-health-sector-prepares-industrial-action-4742512642/