Source: The Malta Independent Monday, 30 September 2019

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses filed for a court ruling to stop the government from negotiating a new agreement with UHM on behalf of the physiotherapists.

Last Friday, the government decided that physiotherapists are to be represented by UHM together with the Allied Health Care Professionals, the MUMN said in a statement.
This is totally unacceptable for MUMN as it enjoys today 60% membership of all physiotherapists employed within the public service. The government’s decision goes against the freedom of association and representation which is clearly pointed out in the Constitution of Malta and ILO directives.

MUMN said it will not accept that its members are not represented by the union of their choice. The Government gave MUMN the sole recognition of physiotherapists just three years ago and is now performing a U-Turn against all principles of human rights.
The MUMN today also registered an industrial dispute with Steward Health Care across the Health, Elderly Sector and Steward Health Care. Such industrial dispute has been declared due to the over delay of refurbishment and expansion in the Physiotherapy Department within St Luke’s. Such directives will only be withdrawn once the refurbishment has initiated and progressed, the union said.