MUMN riles over progression granted to allied health workers, but not nurses
'A slap on the face for nurses'
The MUMN has demanded urgent talks with the government and warned of industrial action after what it said was a 'betrayal' by the health minister.
In a statement, it said that a new agreement for allied health professionals will allow workers in that group to progress automatically to salary scales 5 and 6 without any competitive calls. Meanwhile, senior staff nurses and senior midwives 'are of a lesser God' and have not been allowed automatic progression from their scales.
"This is nothing less than a huge slap on the face to all nurses and midwives," the union said.
It said it had been seeking similar scale progression but was informed by government officials that increases in salary scales were “non-negotiable” and constituted a fixed benchmark across the entire Civil Service.
It was therefore unacceptable and uncalled for that exceptions were being made for other professions, while nurses and midwives were excluded, the union said.