UMMN president to be investigated over overtime allegations – report

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Michela Tufigno

The Department of Health will investigate the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), Paul Pace, over allegations that he claimed overtime when he was actually on holiday in Egypt.

The ministry said after PL political commentator Manuel Cuschieri alleged that in February the president of the unions demanded several overtime hours at his workplace, Mount Carmel Hospital, while in reality he was on vacation.

While the ministry said it would investigate the allegations, Pace denied all allegations with The Times of Malta.

On Friday, Cuschieri claimed on his Linja Diretta radio show that Pace reportedly said he worked overtime from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on February 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 18, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 26 and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. This was while he was vacationing in Egypt between February 16 and 28.

Cuschieri urged authorities to investigate the allegations, saying that if officials did not take action, he was prepared to pursue the story as he was confident his information was correct.

Pace, on the other hand, denied the allegations to The Times of Malta, saying he would continue to work calmly and not let anyone intimidate him.

The allegations surfaced amid an ongoing dispute between MUMN and the Department of Health over working conditions for nurses.

The dispute relates to a branch agreement signed between the nursing union and the government in 2018 which expired in December. Negotiations are underway to sign a new agreement, but the government and the nurses’ union have yet to reach an agreement on terms, in particular salaries for nurses and midwives.

The MUMN opposed the government’s proposals, deeming them discriminatory and insufficient.

MUMN suspends guidelines for its members

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