• Holland And Barrett Vitamins Gibraltar Offer

Apr 24 - Hassan Nahon “Flooded With Messages And Grievances” From GHA Staff

Independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon says she has been “flooded with messages and grievances” by GHA staff who are “at breaking point and see no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Ms Hassan Nahon has also urged the Government to conduct an independent and anonymous survey among staff to allow employees to freely express their issues without fear or reprisals, and also to reconsider the way in which contracts are being processed and administered.

Ms Hassan Nahon’s statement is here in full:

“Having been keeping a close eye on the GHA crisis over the last week in relation to the evident discontent among staff, it is clear that the following issues are the ones that are dominating such discontent to the point of a planned walkout which was stopped at the eleventh hour:

  • The outsourcing of labour to recruitment companies in detriment to those who are truly skilled for the jobs in question 

  • Poor staffing/manning levels rendering the staff “burnt out”

This giving rise to: 


Low morale among staff

“I have been flooded with messages and grievances by GHA members of staff who are at breaking point and see no light at the end of the tunnel. It therefore seems clear that Government and Unite the Union should be seriously listening to and acting upon complaints received via sustainable and viable long-term solutions and not short term patch up jobs.

“Furthermore, various sources, many of which have worked in the GHA for many years, have reported regret at being urged by Union officials at the meetings held with the Chief Minister to not ask questions and to just listen but not comment, something that further highlights the limitations and frustrations for those workers who feel despondent at the current situation. And to add to this, for the Union to have declared via its press release that there will now be a process for GHA workers to “put across the needs or issues pertaining to their department or ward” further illustrates the lack of communication between the staff and the Ministry of Health to date given that this issue has been brewing for months already if not years. To “restart” this fact finding process now when the staff has had enough is almost an insult to the intelligence of the employees at the GHA.

“I urge Government to in the first instance conduct an independent and anonymous survey among staff, an extensive and exhaustive one which will allow employees to freely express their issues without fear or reprisals, and also to reconsider the way in which contracts are being processed and administered.

“I would very much welcome meeting with Unite the Union to better understand the issues presented and also to speak for the members of staff who have made representations to me.”


{fcomment}