Dowty workers' anger at new work conditions

Outraged employees of Trelleborg Dowty poured into the General Workers Union headquarters in Valletta, yesterday, to hear their fate.

In a meeting full of commotion, union section secretary Gejtu Mercieca, told the workers that apart from wanting to reduce the workforce by sacking around 50 people, the management had also proposed a set of unacceptable reductions in employment conditions.

"Unless the issues are addressed immediately, the union is resolved to start taking industrial action as from next week," he said.

Around 10 part-time workers will not have their contract renewed, Mr Mercieca added.

The changes in employment condition include reductions in sick leave and in marriage, mourning and birth leave entitlements. Moreover, he said, proposals for the 2005-7 collective agreement include the removal of paid breaks as well as the workers' health insurance.

The management also wants to bring an end to the system of "last in, first out", which means that whoever is employed last, will be the first to be made redundant.

With regard to the night shift, Mr Mercieca said there was a proposal to decrease the allowance, news that brought about an outburst by the crowd.

When Mr Mercieca told the workers that there was a proposal to discontinue the service bonus, some of the workers burst out in shouts of "fools" (pulcinelli).

Mr Mercieca said there was rife mismanagement in the company, but in the end it was the worker who suffered the consequences.

"They (the management) want to save €1 million, even though the company is making a profit. They want to make 15 per cent profit, but are currently making less," he said.

Mr Mercieca told the workers present that no factory in Malta was increasing its job opportunities, and he did not know where they would work if they were sacked.

However, he stressed that going for cheap labour was not an option, adding that Malta could not compete with China. He said the company was threatening to go to places where there was cheap labour.