Apr 27 – Hassan Nahon: Unite Should Focus On Supporting Its Members
Independent MP Marlene Hassan Nahon has said that Unite should focus on supporting its members in the GHA to find “sustainable solutions” with Government which will be in the long term interests of staff, patients and the general community.
A statement replying to the union’s latest press release continued: “Unite the Union has issued a statement in connection to my initial press release on the GHA crisis where I highlighted how staff were feeling burnt out and as if there was no light at the end of the tunnel for them. I called for an independent and anonymous survey where staff could air their grievances without inhibitions or fear of reprisals. I also called for a reassessment by government on the outsourcing of labour to recruitment agencies, have asked them to address issues of poor staffing/manning levels, and called for better channels of communications.
“Over the last year, I have been approached by many GHA workers, most of whom would be Unite members, expressing dissatisfaction at the work culture in the GHA and at what they perceive is a lack of representation on the part of Unite the Union for their interests. It is my job to raise those views, and I have done so privately with the Ministers and also in Parliament. Given that the issue is escalating, I feel it is my responsibility to air these issues publicly in order to put pressure on the parties concerned to rectify the matter. I have made suggestions as to how to move forward, including a proposal that Unite holds a truly inclusive process that allows members to express their views DIRECTLY to the Union leadership.
“There are over 1,000 members of staff at the GHA who will directly or indirectly be affected by the ongoing crisis so I therefore hope that instead of the Union burning its energy on refuting my contributions on the issue, it focuses on offering its support to members as well as working on sustainable solutions with Government which will be in the long term interests of staff, patients and the general community.”
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