GWU announces industrial action as MDH Securital clerks lose parking benefit

Updated with Securital statement

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These same workers were informed that the benefit will be withdrawn as of July 1,  despite a scheduled conciliation meeting at the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations to discuss the matter between the parties.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.

Arrangement was voluntary legacy benefit introduced under different circumstances, company says

In a statement released on Friday, Securital said it was aware of the concerns raised by the GWU. The company said it had informed the union one week before the relevant notification was issued to the employees concerned, ahead of the conciliation meeting referenced in the union’s statement.

"The arrangement relating to parking costs was a voluntary legacy benefit introduced under different circumstances," the company said.

"Clerks assigned to Mater Dei Hospital benefit from a number of allowances equivalent to those received by employees directly employed by the hospital. Securital has a responsibility to ensure that its overall employment arrangements are applied fairly and in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework.

"In the meantime, and as a goodwill measure, Securital has postponed implementation of the change by one month while engaging with Mater Dei Hospital management to explore whether a practical solution can be identified."

The company said it remained committed to constructive engagement with the GWU and all relevant stakeholders, with the aim of addressing the matter "responsibly and through the appropriate channels."