Drydocks task force holds routine meeting

The drydocks task force met again yesterday but, sources said, it did not have a specific agenda and neither were any specific decisions taken.

The task force is made up of representatives of the drydocks management, the government and the General Workers' Union.

When asked for his comments on the outcome of the meeting, deputy prime minister Lawrence Gonzi, who chairs the meetings, preferred not to comment.

Set up in September 2001, the task force was entrusted with drawing up a restructuring plan for the Malta Drydocks and Malta Shipbuilding by November 2001 aimed at achieving financial viability and eliminating state subsidies by 2008.

The restructuring plan included detailed early retirement and voluntary resignation schemes, a new management structure and a disciplinary code among other things.

The plan also insisted that restructuring would only succeed if the workforce were reduced through voluntary schemes and if efficiency and productivity improved to at least the levels of competing yards.

When asked whether the drydocks would cope with the new workload when the labour force had been cut back due to early retirement schemes, the sources said there were times when the drydocks was carrying out work on 13 ships while currently there were only two main jobs going at the yard.

"If one keeps downsizing the labour force, the chances are that even with half a ship the drydocks would seem to be with its hands full.

"While efficiency and productivity levels have to be improved, these two factors should not be seen on their own but rather as part of a bigger picture," the sources said.

Last year 709 workers from Malta Drydocks and 120 from Malta Shipbuilding had terminated their employment.

A dispute between the drydocks and the GWU over the appointment of acting chargemen is currently being dealt with by the industrial tribunal.