Nov 19 - Contract Workers “Messed Around By Government” According To GSD
According to the GSD, it has come to their attention that GHA contract workers are not being allowed to apply for permanent and pensionable (P&P) positions, despite having worked for a continuous period of three and a half years on fixed term contracts renewed on a rolling basis. Instead, say the GSD, the GHA is telling these individuals, who are specialist nurses and work in specialised areas with a high level of expertise and experience, to take a break in service of three weeks, unpaid, and then to commit to another four years of renewable fixed term 10 months contracts before being eligible to apply for P&P.
“This newly adopted practice is scandalous and immoral, especially when £915,000 was spent on nursing relief cover this financial year because there are not enough living locally to fill these nursing positions,” said Isobel Ellul-Hammond, Opposition Spokesman for Health.
“Our understanding is that these specialist nursing contract workers, who were recruited in the UK by GHA nursing management, are now being taken on 10 month contracts, on a rolling basis, but without the assurances or legal entitlements that are afforded to those who are permanent. This discriminatory practice brings instability to those planning for their future in terms of settling into homes with mortgages and developing professional careers in jobs they enjoy. Such treatment could result in these specialist nurses leaving Gibraltar, which would impact detrimentally on patient care.”
The GSD argues that the nurses affected say their working contracts are so fluid, (some complain of monthly changes to their terms), with variations in contracts from one individual contract worker to another, that even the Human Resources(HR) Department of the GHA has informed them that they do not know what the position is, but agree this cannot be legal. They say that HR is taking directives from the Minister for Health, who keeps on changing the goalposts himself regarding these contract nurses. This demonstrates, says the GSD, that Dr Cortes either does not know what he is doing or he, possibly on instruction from Mr Bossano, the Minister for Employment, is quite happy to interfere with people’s lives as he “makes it up as he goes along.”
“What these contract workers deserve is truthful and solid information as to their working terms and conditions with the GHA, so they can plan for their futures. The behaviour of a so-called ‘socialist’ Government towards non-local EU nationals, who have demonstrated a high level of professionalism, expertise and commitment to our health service, is disgraceful and shows little regard for the welfare of workers. Unite the Union has been informed of the matter, which they will be taking up with the GHA, and I will also meet with Unite to discuss this issue, which I believe is also affecting workers in the Care Agency and elsewhere within the public sector,” said Mrs Ellul-Hammond.
