GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb has declared an industrial dispute at Malta Shipyards following the dismissal of 148 employees.

He protested that the dismissals were made without the union having been consulted or notified. Furthermore, foreign workers had been retained at the shipyard and were doing the work previously done by the Maltese, in violation of what was previously agreed.

Mr Zarb said that the fact that the dismissal notices were mailed at the same time as the management and the union were holding talks for a smooth privatisation process demonstrated bad faith.