Nurses hoping for €5 alternative to two free canteen meals a day

Nurses and other staff at Mater Dei Hospital will be able to opt for a food allowance at the hospital if negotiations underway between the Health Ministry and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) conclude successfully. According to the president of the union, Paul Pace, the directives were suspended in the hope of an agreement coming into effect on January 1. As part of the arrangement, nurses would have the choice to receive a daily food allowance of approximately €5 instead of the twice-daily meals they are offered at the hospital. Mr Pace said the possibility of individual nurses and staff members reverting back to the free meals system every six months was also discussed in the negotiations. Earlier this month, a number of operations were postponed at Mater Dei as nurses took part in partial strike action in protest at the quality of food they were being offered while on duty. Nurses were instructed not to accompany patients into operating theatres by the MUMN, which was demanding meal allowances as an alternative to food offered at the canteen. Mr Pace said this allowance worked out to roughly the same amount of money the caterers were being paid per client in...