Action at Malta Air Traffic Services

The Port and Transport Section of the General Workers` Union yesterday ordered partial industrial action at two separate sites: Malta Air Traffic Services and the Pilotage and Mooring Corp.

In a statement, the union said the action at Malta Air Traffic Services was the result of the union being denied official recognition, although the section held that it represented more than 80 per cent of the workers.

The union did not specify what action has been taken.

It said that behind all this there seemed to be a partisan political interest to discriminate against the GWU.

The union also ordered mooring men with the Pilotage and Mooring Corp to stop using the motor launch because it was dangerous.

The union claimed the launch was operating on just one motor and had other shortcomings.

In spite of the GWU`s insistence for boats to be regularly maintained, the authorities were still dragging their feet, so, the union said, it had no other option but to issue the directive.

The GWU said that another issue it was involved in was that related to San Lucjan Oil Company.

The GWU said that its Port and Transport Section was informed by the management about difficulties that it was facing and that it planned to discharge eight employees who were members of the crew on the ship San Lucjan Prima.

The union said that company director Joe Falzon had informed section secretary Emmanuel Micallef that the company was to be sold to American company El Paso Marine Group Malta Operations.

The American company was insisting that it would deploy its own ship which already had a crew or else it would not sign the purchase contract.

The GWU said it disagreed that Maltese workers should be discharged so that foreigners would instead be employed on a ship which flew a Maltese flag in Maltese waters.

The union said it had insisted with the management that it adhere to the collective agreement and honour what was due to the workers.

It also requested a meeting with the minister of transport to discuss the situation and to try to find alternative employment for the discharged workers.