Gozo ferry delays as workers protest unpaid allowances

Commuters between Malta and Gozo are facing delays and growing frustration as Gozo Channel workers hired by private contractors enforce union directives over months of unpaid allowances the government has yet to settle.

After loading all cars and passengers, the ramp is closed and the mooring men wait five minutes before casting off and letting the ferry depart.

This action, ordered by the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UHM), is in protest over months of unpaid allowances, which the government has repeatedly promised to settle.

The short delays accumulate, causing long queues during rush hours, at both the Mġarr and Ċirkewwa ports, frustrating Gozitan residents who rely on the service to go to work and get back home every day.

Several commuters told Times of Malta they are being forced to leave home earlier, spend more time waiting for and travelling on the ferry, and return home later at night.

Għajnsielem mayor Kevin Cauchi said the queues sometimes stretch all the way to the heart of the village. He said the number of cars is comparable to that seen on busy Sunday nights, when holidaymakers return to Malta from a weekend in Gozo.

In a reply to questions, Gozo Channel said it was in favour of workers getting their dues and promised to settle any outstanding payment by the end of this week.

The core of the dispute is a breach of the equal pay for equal work directive, where workers employed by private contractors are paid less than government employees despite doing the same job side-by-side.

Many a time we tend to forget that for us Gozitans this is an essential service, a service upon which we depend to work- Gozo Business Chamber

UĦM CEO Josef Vella told Times of Malta that while the basic pay has been matched, government workers still receive a night shift allowance, among other allowances, that their contracted counterparts do not.

'Workers owed over €1,000 in night shift allowances'

The union has calculated that each contracted worker at Gozo Channel is owed over €1,000 in night shift allowances accrued since January 1 this year.

And it is not just the mooring men who are going slow. So are cafeteria attendants, cleaners and security officers, who are owed another €1,000 each for night shifts they worked this year, according to the union.

Mayor Kevin Cauchi said the situation is untenable for residents who depend on the ferry for their livelihood.

Meanwhile, yesterday the Gozo Business Chamber released a statement expressing “heavy concern” over the situation, calling the ferry service essential for Gozitans.

“Many a time we tend to forget that for us Gozitans this is an essential service, a service upon which we depend to work,” it said.

While supporting the workers’ rights, the Chamber urged all parties to “sit around the table and resolve immediately the present issues”.

Problem across the public sector

Crucially, the pay disparity and subsequent industrial action are not limited to Gozo Channel.

“Thousands of workers are waiting for payments and millions of euros are owed,” Vella said.

He said an estimated 15,000 workers employed with contractors across the public sector are affected, including staff at MCAST, the courts, the University and at Mater Dei, Mount Carmel and Gozo hospitals.

Cleaners at educational and court institutions are owed over €1,000 each, hospital cleaners are owed between €1,800 and €2,700 and carers in hospitals are facing the most significant disparity, owed between €5,500 and €8,900 each in arrears for this year’s work, the union said.

Vella said that despite repeated promises for months to resolve the issue, the government failed to make the outstanding payments by its promised September deadline, which triggered the current directives.

During last week’s budget speech, the prime minister renewed the commitment, promising workers would start being paid at par with government staff and would receive a total of €35 million in arrears by the end of the year.

‘Gozo Channel settled payments’

In a reply to questions, Gozo Channel chair Joe Cordina said the company has no issues with workers receiving equal pay and has already settled all payments due to its contractors.

“In cases where identified, Gozo Channel have assured the UĦM that these will be reviewed and settled promptly by the end of this week,” he said.

“We would like to emphasise that Gozo Channel has no issues in this regard.”

He also stressed the situation is not specific to the ferry company but involves various contractors across the public sector.

“Gozo Channel may be receiving more attention as any action here would have a wider impact,” he said.