The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has registered an industrial dispute and warned that it will be ordering industrial actions amongst all nurses and midwives as from April the 21st over the payment of the nursing premiums.
The union said that midwives and nurses were meant to be given an increase of €482.34 on their nursing premium, split over four payments to be made once every three months. However, while the first payment in February was duly effected, the union said it was informed that the second payment — which is due on April 21 — would not be made. The union went on to say that it had asked the Government to intervene in order to avoid unnecessary industrial disputes, but since the situation had not changed it had no other option other than that of safeguarding the interests of its members.
“The MUMN cannot accept the fact that, due to bureaucracy and antiquated systems used by the Treasury Department, nurses and midwives are not given what they are due under the agreement signed on October 25, 2007,” the union said.
The MUMN also pointed out that nurses and midwives have been suffering from a shortage of staff for the past months, but have nevertheless continued to strive to give a service to the patients.
“With such an attitude, the Treasury Department is further demotivating these professionals, many of whom are in an alarming situation of collapse,” the union added.