Unite says it stands in support of its members at Elderly Residential Services who have continued to "raise long-standing concerns—some stemming from the TUPE transfer to Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA), and others more recent, including the persistent issue of unfilled vacancies". 

A statement from Unite follows below:

Unite the Union stands in support of its members at Elderly Residential Services (ERS),  who continue to raise long-standing concerns—some stemming from the TUPE transfer  to Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA), and others more recent, including the persistent  issue of unfilled vacancies.

These matters have been the source of ongoing frustration  and legitimate grievance among our members. 

Despite these challenges, our members have remained deeply committed to their  duties and, more importantly, to the vulnerable individuals they care for. In an effort to  avoid any disruption to service users, they made a conscious decision not to engage in  industrial or strike action. Instead, they opted for a peaceful and symbolic  demonstration of their concerns by erecting Unite flags at their workplaces—an act  meant solely to highlight their dispute and express solidarity. 

In fact HMGOG actively and publicly encouraged Unite to find different ways to highlight  industrial disputes in the alternative to strike action in the context of a recent and  different dispute.  

Unite the Union is therefore both surprised and disappointed by HMGOG’s decision to  remove these flags. This act is especially disheartening coming so soon after May Day— a day dedicated to honouring workers—and following public declarations of support for  trade union rights and the importance of workers having a voice.  

The removal of these harmless symbols of protest sends a concerning message to our  members and to workers across Gibraltar: that peaceful expression of dissatisfaction,  even when carried out responsibly and respectfully, will not be tolerated. This not only 

undermines morale but may leave members at other workplaces with no viable  alternative but to consider industrial or strike action—something they have previously  sought to avoid in favour of dialogue and compromise. 

We urge HMGOG to reconsider its approach and engage meaningfully with Unite and its  members to resolve these issues constructively and without the need for escalation.