Eighty-seven per cent of nurses have approved a new sectorial agreement that has been negotiated on their behalf by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, the union said Friday evening.

The vote at the extraordinary general meeting exceeded all expectations with nurses and midwives approving the new sectorial agreement by 87%, the union said.

MUMN said it is proud to confirm that most of its proposals had been accepted and will be introduced during the five-year term of this agreement.

The agreement comes after months of turmoil which included industrial action that was taken by the union earlier this year.

The new sectorial agreement which MUMN will sign with the Office of the Prime Minister will introduce new incentives which will encourage the young people to join the nursing and midwifery profession while retaining the existing nursing work force. 

Such new measures are:

1. All nurses and midwives in all grades will be receiving a management allowance since only the nurses and midwives manage the wards.
2. The extra 6.6 hours which nurses and midwives work as part of their roster will be paid as overtime and not on flat rate as it has always been since the 1970s.
3. The palm reader will only be introduced when all employees, irrespective of their salary scales (Directors, Medical Consultants, top management within the Health and Elderly Ministry etc), start also using the palm reader.
4. Any new IT systems such as the failed Robotic Drug Dispensing System cannot be imposed on the nurses and midwives unless implemented in agreement with MUMN.
5. New allowances were introduced to all new graduates as to attract and retain the nurses and midwives.
6. Increased allowances for Continuous Professional Development.
7. Another new allowance will incentivise nurses and midwives to receive more remuneration when working overtime.
8. All existing allowances pertaining to the nurses and midwifery grades were increased.
9. Deduction from allowances due to sick leave will cease to take place when there is no abuse of sick leave.

Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed the agreement in a post on Facebook. He said that the agreement will mean better conditions and salaries for the nurses, saying he was pleased the workers had approved the agreement reached.

Health Minister Chris Fearne also expressed his satisfaction.