Hospital cleaners call off four day strike

The four day strike by cleaning staff at the Son Dureta national health hospital which was due to start today, has been called off, after agreement was reached with the management. A union spokesman said that management had failed to respect 90 per cent of the agreements reached during the last round of talks. This included a five day week, accident insurance, holidays, and training. The union spokesman said that the workers had made an effort to reach an agreement and prevent the strike. He added that a document guaranteeing the agreements signed last April has been drawn up and signed. The agreements include equal pay for men and women, which will be introduced in two stages, this year and next. Cleaning staff will also receive a 3.5 per cent increase this year and an increase taking into account inflation plus 0.45 per cent next year.