The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission has accused the Health Services Workers Union, HSWU, of intimidation following a threat by the union to embark on a strike on Monday November 11.
According to them the Union’s plan to strike over what the Union says is stalled negotiations with the government over a new Collective Agreement is very intimidating owing to the fact that the claims by the Union are untrue.
The Chief Executive Officer of Fair Wages and Salary at a Press conference demanded that the HSWU retract the statement and apologize to the Commission. He said the FWSC always has, shown great commitment towards the negotiation of Conditions of Service for members of the Health Services Workers’ Union, in line with Section 97 of the Labour Act 2003, Act 651.
Mr Arthur explained that after the HSWU submitted its proposals, the Parties signed Rules of Engagement on Wednesday 17th April 2024 to commence negotiations adding that since then there have been several meetings with the health workers to negotiate their Conditions of Service.
He further explained that on 9th October, 2024, the Parties met to conclude and sign an agreement. However, just before the meeting could end, the Union made an appeal that the Parties should hold on with the signing because HSWU believed majority of their members would not benefit from the agreement and wished to table new items for negotiations. Despite several cautions by the government team that these new demands would prolong the negotiations, the Union went ahead.
Mr. Ben Arthur further said threatening and intimidating a party despite all the goodwill that Government has demonstrated amounts to bad faith, and Government cannot be accused of any delays.
