Local singer and actor stars in Netflix film
1 day ago
Unite calls strike over public sector pay; Govt calls move 'completely unreasonable'
27th August 2025, 12:50 |
Unite has called four days of formal strike action over its public sector pay dispute.
The union is calling on all members directly employed in the public sector to strike on the 11th September, 17th September, 25th September, and 1st October.
The union says this follows the short-notice cancellation of the most recently-scheduled meeting with the Government, adding the Government has also not responded to recent correspondence on the issue.
Last month, Unite members in the public sector voted to reject the Government's pay rises announced in the budget.
Unite says it first met with the Government on the 6th August to discuss public sector pay, but that matters have remained at an impasse.
The union says its committed to ensuring that industrial action does not place those living and working in Gibraltar at risk, and as such, says it has written to the GHA and Care Agency to discuss derogations during strike action.
Unite confirms it has received a proposed plan from the Care Agency, but has still not received one from the GHA.
It says it is available to discuss any derogations in other areas of the public sector, and where the union considers it unsafe, it will explore Action Short of Strike Action.
The union also says it would expect, where an emergency arises, for members to return to work from any picket line or rally to deal with any such emergency.
Unite says it does not take the calling and taking of strike action lightly, and remains committed to finding a solution and avoiding industrial action.
STRIKE DAYS
- Members who start and finish a shift on Thursday 11th September 2025 will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift. For the avoidance of doubt any members commencing a shift that starts on Wednesday 10th September and finishes on Thursday 11th September will be asked to work their whole shift normally. Any members commencing a shift on Thursday 11th September and finishes on Friday 12th September will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift.
- Members who start and finish a shift on Wednesday 17th September 2025 will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift. For the avoidance of doubt any members commencing a shift that starts on Tuesday 16th September and finishes on Wednesday 17th September will be asked to work their whole shift normally. Any members commencing a shift on Wednesday 17th September and finishes on Thursday 18th September will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift.
- Members who start and finish a shift on Thursday 25th September 2025 will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift. For the avoidance of doubt any members commencing a shift that starts on Wednesday 24th September and finishes on Thursday 25th September will be asked to work their whole shift normally. Any members commencing a shift on Thursday 25th September and finishes on Friday 26th September will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift.
- Members who start and finish a shift on Wednesday 1st October 2025 will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift. For the avoidance of doubt any members commencing a shift that starts on Tuesday 30th September and finishes on Wednesday 1st October will be asked to work their whole shift normally. Any members commencing a shift on Wednesday 1st October and finishes on Thursday 2nd October will be called upon to take strike action and not report for any part of their shift.
You can view Unite's letter to Fabian Picardo here.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Number Six says it will "not act irresponsibly with public money" and allow the community to be "held to ransom".
It says Unite has taken a "confrontational" and "totally unreasonable" position which would bring Gibraltar to its knees.
It says the Government has just delivered the second largest public sector pay increase in Gibraltar's history - adding, "The average public sector salary in Gibraltar in 2023 was £42,722, compared to £36,051 in the national economy and £35,430 in the private sector."
The Government also questions Unite's mandate, saying, "Turnout in the ballot was only 48 percent, meaning fewer than one in two members voted. This means that the strike call does not represent a majority of Unite’s membership, yet it is now being used as the basis to threaten disruption to vital services, including the Hospital, Schools, Care and Emergency Services."
Number Six says, "All those who choose to follow the dictates of the union leadership and absent themselves from work will unfortunately have their pay docked accordingly. The Government respectfully calls on all Unite members who do not agree with this confrontational stance to attend their workplaces."
It says "While the Government respects Unite and its members, it cannot recognise the union under its current leadership, which has consistently behaved in a manner that is aggressive, adversarial and unreasonable."
Speaking live on GBC News following the reply from No.6, Regional Officer, Donovan Correia, said Unite was always open to dialogue but was not expecting any offer from the government any time soon.
The strike action, he said, is what Unite members want in response to what they feel is an inadequate pay rise for public sector workers.