Moviment Graffitti voices support with Solidarjetà trade dispute with Casa Paola care home

Moviment Graffitti has voiced its support with Solidarjetà as they initiate a formal trade dispute with the Casa Paola care home.

The trade dispute arises from management’s refusal to meet with Solidarjetà after DIER confirmed it as the sole union representing care home employees on 23 February 2026. 

“The intimidation tactics that prompted the call for a trade dispute and industrial action were directed at workers in a care home providing essential services to vulnerable residents. Such behaviour by management represents a serious threat to workers’ rights, the quality of care provided to residents, and to civil society itself, and it will have consequences,” they said.

Since then, employees working at the Casa Paola elderly home in Paola had been pressured and threatened into forfeiting their union membership, MaltaToday learnt. A number of employees, mostly third-country nationals, have described being warned by their managers about membership in the union Solidarjeta.

Several employees reported that the issue began when their shifts changed. They previously worked 11-hour shifts continuously.

Since Saturday, new directives include rejecting unscheduled shifts with less than 24 hours’ notice unless paid overtime, refusing duties outside their roles, and restricting tasks such as accompanying one resident at a time to appointments and washing no more than six residents per shift.

Graffitti condemned the management’s response to workers exercising their right to unionise, urging Casa Paola’s management team to immediately enter good-faith negotiations with their employees’ DIER-recognised union, Solidarjetà.

They said that they strongly believe workers in all sectors deserve fair conditions and respect, highlighting that any attempts to intimidate workers or retaliate against union members are unacceptable. They said that this must be challenged by unions and civil society, with all employers respecting workers’ right to organise and engage with unions.

The organisation said that their members will attend and support any action organised by the union aimed at resolving this unjust situation as part of their ongoing ‘Justice for Wokers’ campaign.