Upper Rock Nature Reserve walkout called off temporarily

All tourist sites in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve were closed to tourists on Friday morning following a walk out by staff.

Unite the Union confirmed in a statement that its members from the Upper Rock, the cemetery and environmental monitors carried out a walkout against changes announced to their working conditions.

The walkout has been called off and any “potential escalation of action” has been postponed pending a meeting with the Government.

The union said it has also received concerns from within the tourism department.

“Following representations to Government in support of our affected membership, Unite has agreed to meet with the Industrial Relations Minister, Steven Linares, first thing Monday morning,” the union said.

“Considering the above and Mr Linares instructions to maintain status quo until Monday’s meeting, our membership has agreed to postpone any potential escalation of action, pending the results of Monday’s meeting.”

In a statement, the Government of Gibraltar regretted the inconvenience that the public or visitors to Gibraltar may have experienced on account of the “impromptu industrial action” on Friday.

“The Government asserts that there have been no changes to any of its employees’ contractual terms and conditions and to this effect, has informed the unions of its desire to discuss any ancillary matters relating to the discharge of its members’ duties,” it said.

“A series of meetings have been convened for Monday 9th May between the unions and the minister with responsibility for industrial relations, Steven Linares, where solutions to the unions’ members’ grievances will be contemplated.”