Nurses still waiting for negotiations on new sectoral agreement

Nurses and midwives are still waiting for negotiations on a new sectoral agreement with the Health Department to start, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said.

In a statement, the union’s council said that a notice to the Health Department was sent over 15 days ago, but no reply has been forthcoming.

The last agreement was signed four years ago.

According to the council, nurses and midwives in Malta and Gozo were “anxiously waiting” for the new agreement that would address shortage of nurses, professional development, salary adjustment and health and safety issues.

“MUMN Council is ready not to prolong these negotiations through weeks and weeks. On its first negotiating day it is going to be made crystal clear that MUMN expects that a schedule of weekly meetings needs to be agreed on a framework of maximum three months,” it said.

It argued that such a schedule would lead to both parties knowing where they stand and take the necessary steps accordingly.

“MUMN Council has full support from the nurses and midwives who are constantly working in stressful and less favourably environment because of the shortage and the ever-increasing demands.”