European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, together with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo, met in Brussels earlier today.
The Government has said that the GSD Opposition has “jumped the gun” in its press statement regarding GHA contract workers. The matter, says the Government, is one which is under discussion with UNITE the union following representations from them, and no changes have been effected following these representations which are being considered by the Chief Minister as Minister responsible for industrial relations, together with the Minister for Health.
In line with the Government’s policy of ‘Direct Democracy,’ the Chief Minister will appear on GBC Radio’s Lunchtime Show at 1pm on Thursday to take questions from the public.
In a serious incident, a Customs Officer received minor injuries as he attempted to stop a suspect vehicle in a carpark on Europort Avenue in the early hours of Sunday morning. The driver, identified as a 39 year old local man, sped off when he was approached by officers of HM Customs, driving into one of the officers and colliding with, and causing damage to, a stationary vehicle. Officers of the Royal Gibraltar Police later located and arrested the man who has been released on bail until Nov 21st. Investigation into the matter is ongoing. Fortunately the injuries sustained were slight and the officer is making a good recovery.
According to the GSD, it has come to their attention that GHA contract workers are not being allowed to apply for permanent and pensionable (P&P) positions, despite having worked for a continuous period of three and a half years on fixed term contracts renewed on a rolling basis. Instead, say the GSD, the GHA is telling these individuals, who are specialist nurses and work in specialised areas with a high level of expertise and experience, to take a break in service of three weeks, unpaid, and then to commit to another four years of renewable fixed term 10 months contracts before being eligible to apply for P&P.