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Unite members in Elderly Care Agency feel ‘extremely aggrieved’ and will take action
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Unite the union say they hope to be able to count on the support of the public, as they decide to take action at Mount Alvernia which, they say, will not affect the residents nor the care provided.
A statement explains that Unite members employed as Nursing Grades and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) in the Elderly Care Agency have had since its inception been analogued to their counterparts in the G.H.A. With the introduction of Agenda for Change this has created a situation where this link in salary and conditions has disappeared. "We submitted our proposals for parity to be maintained," it says.
On Friday, the Union and reps met the Chief Minister to discuss the issue of the Nursing Grades and AHP in Mount Alvernia and their analogues within the G.H.A., apart from the Care Agency as a whole (including the Care Workers), the government’s response was to offer a process of negotiations for all the Care Agency. "Although as a union we agree with the offer of negotiation for the whole Agency, our members, Nursing Grades and AHP, feel that there is no need to negotiate any deal for those specific grades, as they have been historically analogued to their counterparts in the G.H.A., being qualified and having the same grade," the statement adds.
And continues: "Our members in the Nursing Grades and AHP feel discriminated and demoralised as regards to their grade/salary and conditions.
"We consider that the government has a perception of the work carried out by these staff members, which does not adjust to the reality that exists. The members feel extremely aggrieved, the union reckons that the task carried out by the Nursing Grades and AHP in this department is of equal value to the other wards at the G.H.A. and have the same responsibility. In the Health and Care environment Nursing Grades and AHP although of the same grades, perform different roles adequate to the area they are destined. On that basis our union members seek that they should have parity with their analogues in the G.H.A.
"Another important point is that if this issue is not addressed urgently, a situation could be created whereby the Nursing Grades and AHP will think of leaving Mount Alvernia and applying for posts in the G.H.A., this would create a serious problem. Recruitment and the engagement of bank staff would be most difficult.
"We consider that what we are pursuing is reasonable and just.
"As such we will be initiating a series of action in our struggles to achieve what we consider our legitimate right.
"We wish to reassure the general public that any action taken will not affect any residents nor the care provided, there will be no walk out and all action will be taken within our own time. Staff feel we owe this to the elderly population and their families in Gibraltar, so as not to compromise their care.
"We hope to count on the support of the general public of Gibraltar."
16-09-11
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