Cabinet to discuss PBS today

The government, the board of directors of the state-funded PBS media, and the General Workers' Union are expected over the coming days to start talks over the future of the public service corporation's employees.

Sources said yesterday the future of Public Broadcasting Services is also expected to be discussed today by the cabinet. Investments Minister Austin Gatt is understood to have prepared a memorandum for the cabinet about the situation at the corporation.

The memorandum highlights a proposal to overhaul the corporation's operations, including plans to shed up to 100 employees.

The GWU's services and media section secretary, Karmenu Vella, said in a statement the talks would focus on the revision of the collective agreement as well as new work practices and restructuring of the corporation.

The GWU said it had been informed by the government that over the coming days it would be presented with a draft new collective agreement, an updated restructuring plan, including a new report prepared by MIMCOL, as well as details about a number of early retirement schemes.

But Mr Micallef said that although the union was aware of the "serious situation" in state television "it will not accept a situation where the workers will end up without a job".

Mr Micallef said the union was not against early retirement schemes as long as they were voluntary, respected the workers' dignity and reflected the workers' contribution to the corporation over the years.

Mr Micallef said the union had been calling for adequate reforms at PBS for many years. "The government and politicians now have to assume responsibility for their actions and offer solutions that will not be detrimental or humiliating for PBS employees. The union will not accept that the workers be made to pay for the mistakes committed at PBS by politicians over the years."

The two sides last week held an introductory meeting over the future of PBS, during which GWU deputy general secretary Manwel Micallef said the union was not prepared to discuss discharges or forced early retirement schemes.

PBS has a workforce of 180 and the government proposals are that these should be reduced to between 50 and 85.

PBS loses about Lm2.4 million a year, which works out at Lm13,300 per employee annually.