Apr 27 - Unite: Hassan Nahon “Attempting To Capitalise” On GHA Issues
Unite has said it would like to clarify certain statements made by Independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon regarding the Gibraltar Health Authority.
A statement from the union continued: “Unite disqualifies great part of the statements made by Ms Hassan Nahon, given the picture that she wishes to portray of Unite’s action or inaction as she perceives them.
“It is untrue that Unite are acting as if the concerns shared by the workforce which resulted in the call to industrial action had only just materialised. It is in fact our desire to see through these problems that up to the present had fallen upon deaf ears that Unite were in the process of facilitating the industrial action in order to bring all parties to the table.
“If the outcome that we have now reached, is precisely the outcome that the industrial action would have achieved, Unite asks Ms Hassan Nahon, is it not an irresponsibility to proceed with an action that will indirectly have a domino effect on patient care? That is why Industrial Action in the context of services that deal with the vulnerable and poorly is an action of last resort. Unite however does not shy from using this avenue if the circumstances called for it.
“It must be lost on Ms Hassan Nahon that the decision to suspend Industrial Action came as a consequence of a democratic vote of all reps present that were spearheading their respective department's or ward's concerns. To this effect, it would be a sad day indeed if Unite did not abide by the democratic process which it prides itself on.
“Unite is not in the business of politicising Industrial matters and if Ms Hassan Nahon’s real intentions were to assist or facilitate the interests of those constituents that have shared some of their concerns with her, it would have been pertinent to engage with Unite to ascertain what the global picture was instead of attempting to capitalise on these serious issues for her own interests.
“Morale is obviously low, and issues have not been addressed in the past that have led to the situation we are currently in. It does not take a politician to highlight the obvious. That is why Unite is in the process of discussing these matters with the Minister of Health and the Chief Minister given their commitment to address these matters now.”
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