GWU orders action by Paola health centre staff

Staff at the Paola health centre are adhering to industrial action ordered by the Genral Workers’ Union on Saturday, after negotiations with the government failed to solve the impasse.

The union said it had ordered the action after the authorities failed to address discrimination being faced by staff in the centre’s reception, who were being treated in a different manner than their counterparts in other health centres.

GWU’s government and public entities section secretary Jeremy Camilleri said the union could not accept discrimination among workers who did the same job. Nor could it accept having some workers being awarded better work conditions than others of the same pay grade.

“The time of privileges is long gone and the GWU expects workers of the same grade and who carry out the same duties to be subject to the same level of respect and equal work conditions.

Camilleri apologised for any inconvenience the public might experience at the Paola health centre but said the actions would continue until the authorities recognise the issues and move to address them.

The union was not excluding harshening the industrial action if the authorities fail to act.