A judge has temporarily suspended industrial action ordered by a union, after an application for an injunction was filed by the Health Ministry.

Over 1,300 workers were taking part in industrial action ordered by UHM - Voice of the Workers. The union had said that industrial action was ordered in the wake of government's decision to backtrack on pledges made in writing in agreements reached with UHM months ago. "In one case, the government outright refused to start negotiations on a new collective agreement."

In a statement, the union said that hospital appointments cancelled as a result of the industrial action ordered in the health sector had not been restored, despite the temporary suspension of these directives on Thursday evening. The court halted the action until submissions on the merits of the case are heard in court. The industrial action involved Allied Health professionals, Emergency Ambulance Responders and Steward Health Care employees. 

"Furthermore, emergency ambulance responders are being left idle, despite the fact they are no longer on industrial action which was temporarily suspended following the injunction. UHM is informed that for some reason the Government has left the ambulance equipment in the contractor's vehicles despite having its own fleet and employees at its disposal."

"Such conduct raises questions on whether government has patients and healthcare workers at heart, despite heaping praise to the COVID-19 front liners."

UHM renewed its call on the Prime Minister to intervene in order for this dispute to be resolved in the interest of all parties involved. "Government's decision to hide behind an injunction instead of holding talks with the union to find solutions in the interest of both patients and workers, marks a bad day for social dialogue."