Steward Health Care Malta, in a statement, has reiterated that it has no objection in principle to government employees in Gozo General Hospital, Karin Grech Hospital as well as St Luke’s Hospital being given the same meal allowance as their counterparts in other hospitals.

“This was communicated to the union and the Health Ministry on several occasions since the request was made,” said Steward

Steward Malta, however, “is waiting direction from the Health Ministry,” it said, to resolve this dispute – in view of tomorrow’s industrial action ordered by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN).

Steward went on to say that further to a request made last June made by the MUMN with regards to meal allowances being provided to government employees in Steward hospitals, the latter decided to register an industrial dispute.

Steward added that it has since been in discussions with the Health Ministry and awaits further direction on the matter. On Monday, the union issued directives on this issue, which come into effect tomorrow.

It stressed that “these allowances are within the remit of the ministry as part of the policies and agreements relating to public service employees, and are not at Steward’s discretion.”

Steward Malta concluded by saying that, “whilst the right to industrial action is a constitutionally protected right that Steward will always respect, Steward would like to echo the sentiments voiced by the general public and urge stakeholders to remember that industrial action should not come at the expense of patients’ wellbeing.”

Photo by Anthony Zammit

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