Minister asked to intervene in beef dispute

The GRTU - Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises has called on Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino to intervene and resolve the dispute over fresh beef.

The appeal comes a day after local beef producers disrupted the action taken by slaughterers, represented by the GRTU, and killed a number of cattle at the abattoir on Monday.

The GRTU and the Milk Producers Cooperative (KPH) have been at loggerheads for the past three weeks over a production bonus and the immediate introduction of meat grading at the abattoir.

The GRTU said yesterday that producers, represented by KPH, killed 65 cattle instead of the usual 90 to 110 heads.

"The GRTU did not intervene in any way. It advised its members not to hinder their workers from helping to ensure that the work was carried out as usual," it said.

The GRTU said it acted in this way because it truly believed that if KPH slaughtered the animals itself, its members would realise it did not pay to destroy the slaughterers' business.

"The GRTU believes that despite the differences an agreement can still be reached and it is the duty of Mr Pullicino to ensure that this does in fact happen," it said.