In a letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, UHM assistant secretary general Joe Grillo said the union was not prepared to endorse the privatisation agreement before agreement is reached on a collective agreement and before the government and the Privatisation Union make a written declaration that the workers and their jobs will be safeguarded.

Just like other collective agreements at other workplaces, the negotiation processing of new collective agreements is slow, ineffective, inefficient and unproductive.

The union finally warned of possible industrial action without notice if its requests are not accepted.