Unite has today confirmed a pause and step back from action across Health & Care to “allow for further dialogue and dispute resolution”, but the union also warned that further strike action is possible.

A statement continued: “Unite members working in the Industrial grades as Domestics and Labourers in the Gibraltar Health Authority returned to work normally at 8am today and there was a meeting with the Minister for Health to further discuss the dispute and with an offer of further dialogue next week. The union are meeting with the membership on Monday 9^th December to discuss next steps, whether to pause or call more action.

“The strike action that was due to commence within the Care Agency Therapy Team and the Catering Departments in the GHA & ERS on Monday 9^th December for a week has been postponed due to progress that has been made with regard to the issues in dispute and to allow for further negotiations next week.”

Stuart Davies, National Officer for Unite Gibraltar stated: “Our members working within the Industrial grades in the GHA have been on strike action for a week and have returned to work normally this morning. They have shown great courage and vibrancy in taking a stand in the furtherance of their dispute with the GHA and the union will continue to lend our full support. There has been further dialogue with HMGOG and we will be meeting with our members on Monday to discuss next steps.

“HMGOG’s press release on the matter of the dispute is somewhat bewildering, suggesting that the union is not managing the expectations of members and pointing the blame of the strike action on inter-union politics. Given that this claim was first issued in December 2023 and there was only serious engagement on the issues once strike action was called demonstrates a breakdown in meaningful industrial relations on the part of the employer. On the point of inter-union politics, to be clear as a member led organisation it is our members that decide whether to take strike action or not, our members have been driven to this point by employer inaction on the range of issues and we fully support their stance.

“Further strike action that was planned within the Care Agency Therapy Team, as well as the ERS & GHA Catering Departments to commence on Monday 9^th December has been paused due to the welcome progress made on the issues in dispute and to allow for further negotiations. The members have agreed to pause strike action as a show of good faith, Unite trusts that these decisions will be taken by the employers and Government in the spirit in which was intended and will work with the union and our representatives to seek resolutions.”