MUMN claim on car park agreement denied

Health director general Ray Busuttil yesterday denied there had ever been an agreement between the health division and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses on the use of the car park close to St Luke`s Hospital.

The car park, which was recently passed on to Pietà council, has been the cause of a dispute between unions and the health authorities because the parking fee has risen from 10c to 35c.

A two-hour strike was held over the issue by the MUMN and the General Workers` Union on Thursday.

When he was speaking to the employees, MUMN president Rudolph Cini said that last June the director general had signed an agreement stipulating that the number of surveillance officers should be increased for greater security at the hospital and the nearby car park.

The agreement, he said, also called on the health authorities to consider installing electronic monitoring surveillance equipment.

But Dr Busuttil said that in May last year, the MUMN had issued several directives on a number of issues, particularly on the physical state of the wards at St Luke`s Hospital, the recruitment of supporting staff for nurses and midwives and the issuing of protocols and guidelines.

The MUMN had expressed concern over the damage being caused to staff cars parked at the hospital and at the car park close by.

The Health Division had agreed on more surveillance by the hospital security officers and to consider the installation of an electronic system to guarantee security.

Dr Busuttil said there had never been an agreement on the use of parking facilities or fees that should be paid.

Therefore, he said, the MUMN`s reference to an agreement was only an attempt to misguide the public, Dr Busuttil said.

The director general also insisted that the allegation of discrimination by the health division over the issuing of parking permits at hospital car parks was unfounded.

He said permits were issued to all employees from scale nine upwards, irrespective of their grade or profession. This allegation was yet another attempt to attract public sympathy, he said.

Dr Busuttil said he had done everything possible to acquire advantageous conditions for employees who wanted to use the car park since it had been passed on to the council.

He hoped the unions would have more success in any negotiations with the council over tariffs.