Hardly any progress was made on nursing aides at a meeting yesterday between the General Workers’ Union, the Health Division and the Office of the Prime Minister. It was obvious from the start, the union said, that the government did not want to conclude an agreement on nursing aides, health assistants, care workers and assistant care workers.

The government side hardly moved from its position of the last meeting on 4 February, the union said. On February 29, three days after the GWU was given the appointment for 3 March, the rival UHM, which the GWU said represents only a small number of these worker categories, sent them a letter to give them details about an agreement it had reached with the health division.

The GWU said three requests on behalf of nursing aides, health assistants, care workers and assistant care workers which it had made originally, were discussed by the government with the UHM which had a minority representation. Such agreements had been concluded before, on claims made by the GWU which then the government discussed with the UHM, the GWU charged.

The GWU added it would not accept any agreement concluded with another union which did not represent a majority of the workers.