The government’s reluctance to negotiate with the General Workers Union (GWU) with regard to the nursing aides’ agreement was threatening industrial democracy as the GWU represented 70 per cent of the employees, said Union Secretary General Tony Zarb.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Zarb said that by negotiating with another union, the government was totally disregarding any notion of democracy in industry. He announced that the GWU will this evening instruct its members regarding action to be taken in this regard. He said the union was ready to fight over the issue of recognition even at a European level.

Mr Zarb said the union represented 463 of a total of 680 sector workers, and thus the government should negotiate only with it.

He said he was very pleased with the agreements reached with doctors and nurses and the government should immediately restart negotiations with the GWU in order to find an adequate resolution to the problem.

The secretary general said he was aware that the health sector was going through an overhaul due to the migration from St Luke’s Hospital to the Mater Dei Hospital. To this end, he said, the union was moving prudently so as not to upset the situation. However, he warned, this should not be taken as a sign of weakness.

Louis Marsh, Government and Public Entities Section Secretary, said the union was asking for an adequate roster or full pay for workload and an adequate premium allowance for nursing aides, health assistants and care workers. The GWU was pressing for all nursing aides to be paid equally.

Deputy Secretary General Gejtu Mercieca accused the government of breaching the 2002 Industrial Act, whose main driving force was Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.