The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) has expressed concern over its stalled negotiations with the government for a new Collective Agreement with health agencies and facilities under the Ministry of Health, threatening an industrial action to press their demands.
Expressing their frustration in a press statement issued on Thursday, November 7, the union gave the government an ultimatum up to Monday, November 11, 2024 for the negotiations to resume and be concluded, without which the union would advise itself.
As required by law, the union indicates that it submitted proposals to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in November 2023 to initiate discussions when the collective agreement became due for a mandatory review in November last year.
“Despite this, negotiations, which began in May 2024, have yet to yield results. There have been countless meetings with the government team and we seem not to be making a headway.
“We are giving them up to Monday, November 11, 2024, to get all the outstanding issues resolved to enable the parties to conclude and sign the agreement for its implementation.
“Failure to do so will lead to the Union advising itself in a language that the government best understands,” they cautioned.
They emphasised that the agreement is essential to alleviate the economic hardship currently facing health services workers.
The union leadership urged members to “remain calm and resolute,” assuring them of their commitment to secure their interests at the negotiations.
