Bonnici assures GWU over shipyards

Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici yesterday wrote to Tony Coleiro, the secretary of the General Workers' Union's dockyard workers section, informing him that the government had no intention of closing down either of the shipyards.

The section last Wednesday directed Malta Shipbuilding workers not to accept to be transferred to the Malta Drydocks unless with the section's prior approval.

The directive was issued over reports in the Labour Party media stating that leaked internal government correspondence suggested the government intended to close down the shipbuilding yard. Minister Bonnici was given a week in which to deny the reports in writing.

In yesterday's letter, the minister said the government's position on the 'yards was contained in the restructuring plan, which had been discussed within the task force on which the GWU was also represented.

The position - which includes integrating the two 'yards and trying to win contracts to build parts of vessels instead of whole ships - had been spelled out in earlier statements.