UHM section secretary Jesmond Bonello said the directive included:

• No inspections by Authority officials;

• No work to be carried out at the Trade Fair;

• Officials will not attend the Trade Fair;

• No correspondence by email, fax, post and no telephones will be answered;

• Course work will not be carried out.

The UHM said it had resorted to issuing directives because the concerned authorities were dragging their feet about thrashing out a new collective agreement.

The union said the last meeting was held in May and was still waiting for counter proposals. The negotiations have been going on since March 2003.