UHM warning on Freeport privatisation

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin has warned that it would not accept any privatisation unless it had an agreement on the terms, referring in particular to the planned privatisation of the Freeport.

On Friday, Investment Minister Austin Gatt had said that the privatisation process at the Freeport depended on the progress made with the unions.

He said the government has entered into detailed negotiations as well as consultations with the workers' representatives to give the terminal management contract to CMA/CGM for 30 years.

However, the UHM yesterday denied that there were any talks under way.

"The UHM wants to make it clear that, until now, there has been no process of consultation, information or negotiation with it on the privatisation."

It added that negotiations on the workers' collective agreement were also stalled as it was awaiting a financial proposal from the Collective Bargaining Unit.

It called on the government to make its intentions clear with regard to privatisation, "to avoid industrial unrest".