GWU taking steps over holidays cut

The General Workers' Union yesterday announced three measures aimed at countering the government's decision not to allow vacation leave to be increased when public holidays fall at the weekend.

The GWU is to put its case before the International Labour Organisation as well as European Union institutions and other international organisations such as the European Trade Union Council and the International Confederaton of Free Trade Unions.

The GWU said that union sections would also make representations with employers to ensure that provisions agreed in negotiations for collective agreements were observed and safeguarded.

Furthermore, the union is exploring what legal measures it may be able to take against the move.

The decision to resort to action against the measure was approved unanimously during a meeting of the union's national council on Thursday.

The GWU also urged its members to follow any directives that could be issued from time to time to safeguard their interests in this issue.

The public holidays measure, first proposed in the budget, became law despite strong opposition from unions after the breakdown of talks on a social pact.