The General Workers Union has issued a number of directives for public healthcare workers over issues related to their collective agreement.

The union’s Public Entities section said it has been trying to reach an agreement on the Sectoral Workers Agreement since November 2020.

“After several attempts by the GWU to reach an agreement with the ministries concerned, there was no choice but to call this industrial action after a lack of communication and progress,” the union said.

The directives come into effect on Tuesday 30 March.

Union members working at Mater Dei Hospital, Mount Carmel Hospital, Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, nursing homes and the Gozo General Hospital are instructed not to leave their wards,

clinics, departments, or their stations to carry out work related tasks.

Staff at St Vincent de Paule have been told not to wash or treat patients.

Staff in Primary Healthcare have been told not to communicate by telephone.

The union said it is willing to negotiate an agreement but reserves the right to increase industrial action if the current situation continues.