A statement from Unite the Union follows below:

Unite the Union (Union for workers in Gibraltar) today Tuesday 20th February 2024, have said that the inability of the GHA to pay their own staff after clear commitments were given to  Unite for payment to be reached on 16th February is unacceptable to its membership across  nursing in the Gibraltar Health Authority.

Extra days payments are days in lieu that the GHA  have not been able to provide staff due to operational issues and therefore have to be paid  to nursing staff who work on bank holidays to ensure that the health service continues to run  properly.

Unite the Union and the GHA agreed an SOP document which was implemented  last summer.

The GHA are now challenging without any evidence to support their current  view that it was never implemented as policy. As far as the Union is concerned, it was  implemented but management had not communicated effectively to one another to ensure  staff were treated correctly. The 16th of February deadline was put forward by the GHA due  to the fact that GHA management had not been organised to reach the end of January pay  deadline for the extra days to be paid.  

Sam Hennessy Regional Officer for Unite the Union said, “Nursing staff continue to be let  down by a management team that does not put the needs of their own staff first. We are  seeking further meetings with the employer to avoid such an issue arising again. Our  members and union representatives across nursing have told us that they feel strongly that if  the GHA is going to give solid commitments to frontline nursing staff they must be adhered  to. Nursing staff are already suffering from low morale, and this has contributed to the feeling  of low morale even further. Quite simply, this cannot be allowed to happen again.” 

Unite the Union received written apologies from the GHA on this issue but nothing was put  forward from HMGOG. Going forward Unite will be working closely with its members and  nursing union representatives in ensuring a lasting solution for all concerned.