GWU announces industrial action as MDH Securital clerks lose parking benefit
Union warns it could escalate industrial action
The GWU announced industrial action at Mater Dei after its members who are employed by Securital to do clerical work at the hospital are no longer being compensated for parking expenses during work hours.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the General Workers Union said that following Securital's decision to discontinue paying for parking for a number of its clerical employees - a benefit that had always been paid for by the company - the Professional, Financial and Services Section of the union warned it will kick off action within 24 hours.
The company had covered parking expenses of these employees up until Tuesday.
These same workers were informed that the benefit will be withdrawn as of July 1, despite a scheduled conciliation meeting at the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations to discuss the matter between the parties.
"The GWU considers this decision to be irresponsible and contrary to the principles of good industrial relations.
"Rather than allowing the conciliation process to take its course, the company chose to implement a measure that directly affects its employees, further aggravating the industrial relations situation.
"Considering these developments, the GWU has no alternative but to commence industrial action in order to safeguard the rights and working conditions of the employees it represents," the union said in a statement.
The GWU added it remained open to constructive dialogue aimed at reaching a fair and equitable solution.
However, should the company persist with its position and fail to reverse its decision, the GWU warned it did not exclude escalating its industrial actions as necessary.