GWU calls for parties’ commitment over hospital subcontracted workers

The General Workers Union has written to the three political parties demanding a commitment over the future of 300 workers at Mater Dei Hospital, currently working under precarious conditions.

The GWU has recently filed an industrial dispute with Mater Dei Hospital and the Health Department over the conditions of the subcontracted workers, who despite doing the same job as those directly employed by government, receive lower salaries.

"Lack of commitment from the party leaders would imply that the parties would be ready to leave 300 workers working under precarious conditions," GWU section secretary Cory Greenland said.

In a press conference earlier this afternoon the GWU lauded the workers decision to fight for their rights: "It's not usually the case that subcontracted fight for their rights, indeed it's very common that subcontracted workers accept conditions imposed in fear of  losing their jobs."

G4S, which technically employs these workers, is being affected by these industrial actions. Greenland insisted however, "G4S is only honouring the collective agreement with the workers as the true source of the dispute is with the government s decision."

Greenland said the union understood that it was unlikely for a tender to be issued during an electoral campaign but noted "300 workers and their families deserve to know where they stand. For this reason we are sending Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Muscat and Michael Briguglio a petition signed by the workers and a request to clarify their positions," Greenland said.

According to Greenland, the workers were serving as "substitutes and supply staff" and are a complimentary human resource to Mater Dei Hospital.

"It was the government's own decision to make use of 'sub-contracted' human resources. These workers are providing their service directly to government and are often subjected to supervision and performance appraisals from hospital officials," he said.

"In a similar competitive contract scenario, government will end up rewarding the contractor who is oppressing the workers the most, unless a fixed salary scale and standard work conditions are established."

The GWU is suspending all actions for the next few weeks but is keeping open the possibility of restarting them when the right time arises.