Unite In Health Gibraltar

💙👩‍⚕️ HAPPY INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY 👨‍⚕️💙

Today we celebrate and recognise the incredible dedication, compassion and professionalism of all nurses who work tirelessly caring for our community every single day. Thank you for everything you do, your hard work never goes unnoticed.

Unite the Union Health & Care Branch would also like to invite everyone to join us this Thursday 14th May at 4:30pm at Transport House for our International Nurses Day event, with speakers, canapés and recognition for our amazing nursing professionals.

Happy International Nurses Day to all nurses today 💙

‼️🚨🚨‼️NEW POST ALERT 🚨 ‼️🚨‼️🚨‼️

As 2025 draws to a close, Unite in Health Gibraltar takes this opportunity to reflect on the past year. While we would have hoped to end the year on a positive note, regrettably this has not been the case.

We began 2025 with a substantial number of unresolved claims across the health service. These longstanding issues culminated in demonstrations involving various disciplines within the health sector. Those demonstrations highlighted serious concerns relating to staff shortages, unresolved employment matters, and the resulting impact on patient safety. They also brought to light a deeply concerning workplace culture within the Gibraltar Health Authority, where many staff feel afraid to speak out or raise concerns for fear of repercussions. This culture of silence is unacceptable in any healthcare setting.

Following our demonstration in June 2025, one of the key actions committed to was the appointment of an Industrial Relations Officer specifically tasked with addressing longstanding claims and issues within the nursing sector. This appointment was welcomed by Unite, and during this period the officer actively engaged with outstanding matters. Regular meetings took place, and progress, although slow, was beginning to be made.

However, it has now been confirmed that this individual has been absorbed into the Government of Gibraltar’s Department of Industrial Relations and will no longer have an active or dedicated role within the Gibraltar Health Authority. This development represents a significant setback.

There remains an enormous number of outstanding claims that urgently require resolution, some of which date back as far as nine years. Of particular concern is a claim pertaining to a group of retired nurses. The removal of the Industrial Relations Officer will inevitably cause further delays to an issue that is time-sensitive and directly affects a vulnerable group of pensioners who have already waited far too long for resolution.

This situation is further compounded by the fact that the GHA Executive Board is currently formed of individuals serving in an acting capacity, with none empowered to make substantive decisions. While Unite welcomes the appointment of all Board members, this transition will result in yet another reset, leading to further delays. The Gibraltar Health Authority has been in a constant state of reset since the pandemic, with continuity and accountability repeatedly disrupted.

Whilst Unite in Health Gibraltar welcomes the review of the nursing skill mix, not all departments have yet been audited. Furthermore, we are still awaiting feedback on the proposed plan of action to address the gaps identified by the audits already undertaken by nursing managers. Without clear

timelines and committed resources, these reviews risk becoming yet another exercise without meaningful outcomes.

Unite in Health Gibraltar continues to stand firmly behind its members, both serving and retired. We will not accept further delays, regressions, or the sidelining of legitimate claims. As we look ahead to 2026, our members deserve fairness, accountability, transparency, and decisive action. They deserve a health service where concerns can be raised without fear, where commitments are honoured, and where long-standing issues are finally resolved.

Unite in Health Gibraltar remains committed to representing and defending its members in the year ahead and will continue to hold the relevant authorities to account. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our members for their resilience and professionalism throughout a challenging year and to wish all Unite in Health Gibraltar members a healthy, safe, and Happy New Year.

To all members under 30 years old, don’t miss out tomorrow’s event! 🎉🥳🎈🎊

📣 Join us at 17:00 tomorrow at Unite HQ for the next Young Members Committee meeting.

🗣️ Meet our National Young Members Coordinator
👥 Connect with other members
🥤 Enjoy soft drinks and finger food

This is your chance to get involved share ideas and help shape the future of your union.

💪 Unite the union is strongest when young voices are heard. Come along and be part of the movement.

🚨GHA Industrials dispute resolved🚨

Unite the union for workers in Gibraltar has today (21st July) confirmed that the long running dispute between the GHA and the Industrials Unite membership to include General Operatives, Domestics and Labourers has been successfully resolved. Unite members took initial strike action for one week in November and then a further week at the end of November into December which culminated in a demonstration outside of No.6 in a dispute over a range of issues including remuneration in recognition of the clinical environment that those workers in the GHA operate within.

Following a number of meetings and negotiations following the strike action, a proposal was reached that was put to a ballot of members and was overwhelmingly accepted. The GHA and Ministry have been advised and arrangements are now being made to implement the proposal, including backdating of the agreement to 1st November 2024. The resolution is for a 4% allowance on basic pay to recognise the clinical environment in which the Industrials operate and also an annual Hospital Hygiene Continuity Allowance of up to £500 per annum which is anticipated will maximise attendance and reduce the cost of covering staff absence.

💬 Bochra Lasfar, Unite Regional Officer stated “Our members showed great resolve in taking strike action in pursuit of their claim and to have their work in a clinical environment recognised in the form of these allowances. I am delighted that we have been able to resolve this dispute without the need for further action, the union has been engaged in constructive dialogue with the GHA & Ministry as to this resolution, we look forward to continuing that positive engagement to resolve the other outstanding issues for members across the sector”.

💬 Stuart Davies, Unite National Officer stated “It has been a challenging period within the Health & Care Sector and whilst we still have a great many issues to resolve, there is undoubtedly a direction of travel within the industrial relationship that is progressing positively. It would be churlish to not recognise this and the resolution for our Industrials membership is indictive of this step change. The union looks forward to a continuation of this progress for the betterment of our members, the service and service users”.