Doctors’ union insists it represents majority of medical academics

The Medical Association of Malta hit back at statements made by the MUMN, UMASA and the University of Malta over the union representation of medical academics at the University.

MAM on Friday registered an industrial dispute with the Ministry for Health over non-compliance with the doctors’ collective agreement and filed a judicial protest on the renewal of the collective agreement of the University of Malta’s academic staff.

The action sparked immediate reactions by the MUMN, UMASA and the University who all insisted that the unions recognised to represent academic staff working at the University and the Junior College are UMASA and MUT.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses also accused MAM of hypocrisy over the ordered industrial action.

However, MAM insisted that its directives are within the parameters of the provision of essential services of employment and industrial relations act and its directives are aimed at having minimal impact on patient care.

“MAM has been patient for six years with University and this definitely does not qualify as militant, surely not by Mr Paul Pace’s definition of 46 directives in one year,” MAM president Martin Balzan said.

“In the interest of professionalism and trade union ethics MAM will not engage Mr. Pace’s unsolicited, most inopportune and childish remarks.”

According to Paul Pace, the union only has five directives in place at Mater Dei, insisting that neither of these directives are having a negative impact on patients or the services offered at the hospital.

Pace hit back at the medical association’s chief and said “Martin Balzan is right because with a salary in the region of €75,000 a year and thousands more they earn from their private practice, doctors and consultants will certainly not die of hunger.”

MAM said that it had 400 or more medical academics who are its members while UMASA had less than 300 in all of university.

“MAM can claim recognition both at the University and at the Medical School, and this is manifestly within the parameters of the law. This is the heart of the matter, and that is why MAM has filed a judicial protest in the law courts,” Balzan said.

According to the University, it is “absurd” for MAM to declare an industrial dispute with the University on the basis that they claim to represent the majority of the academic staff working at the Medical School.

“It is important to note that the Medical School is not a legal entity in its own right, in fact it does not exist statutorily,” the University said on Friday.

Balzan said representation issues are normally solved by asking the registrar of trades union to perform a formal verification, and then adjudicate recognition accordingly.

“There is nothing absurd, hypocritical, or anything to condemn in this except that University has failed miserably to perform this legal duty of asking for a verification,” Balzan said.

While MUMN accused MAM of “hypocrisy”, UMASA condemned MAM’s “eleventh hour attempt to derail” the legitimately negotiated collective agreement for the academic staff at the University of Malta.

“While MAM keeps all negotiating options open, it is determined to proceed with industrial action as planned next Tuesday. Unfortunately should there be no progress MAM would be forced to consider the escalation of its actions,” Balzan said.

Doctors in all government hospitals, clinics and health centres will stage a one-hour strike on Tuesday. The action will exclude the Accident and Emergency Department, wards and operating theatres.

The strike will take place between 8am and 9am, although those with appointments during this hour will be seen later.