What's in store for Sea Malta workers?

There is no point in justifying the government's stand of ignoring the demands of Sea Malta workers and going ahead with the signing of the privatisation agreement.

Meaningful and effective consultation, throughout the process of negotiations, is of utmost importance especially nowadays when the promotion of social dialogue and the active participation of the social partners are the order of the day within the political, economic and social scenario.

The transfer of shares per se from the Maltese government to the Grimaldi Group, through its subsidiary Atlantica, does not in anyway disturb the current Sea Malta collective agreement.

All present employees are therefore entitled to enjoy the benefits and are obliged to respect the conditions of employment stipulated under this collective agreement. The same applies to the management of the company.

It is a misconception therefore to state that Sea Malta's privatisation depends entirely on the workers', or their representatives', response. Should the new owners honour the present collective agreement in toto, the privatisation of Sea Malta becomes a non-issue so far as the workers' conditions of employment are concerned.

However, the agreement with Grimaldi incorporates clauses related to human resources matters and it transpires that these issues have to be sorted out with the GWU prior to the finalisation of the privatisation deal and within a time limit.

The government has now pronounced itself as if it has safeguarded the interest of the employees. To cover up its omission of granting effective consultation, the government is now turning on the workers with a take-it-or-leave-it option. Once again, commercial considerations prevail over the livelihood of the workers' families.

The government's actions, or omissions, have put the workers in a straitjacket. Alternative employment is not on the agenda. Job losses are on the doorstep. Are there any realistic solutions?

In my view, to call the government's bluff is not the way forward. The cry for solidarity in a militant fashion does not hold either. It is very unlikely that workers in the maritime sector will be receptive to calls for sympathy strikes. Negotiations have to be resumed immediately between the government, the workers' representatives and the Grimaldi officials. The following is my proposal for a realistic solution:

¤ Seaborne employees to remain on the books of Sea Malta.

¤ Shore-based employees to be assigned duties with government entities, such as IPSL (a similar concession has already been granted to Sea Malta employees by the government).

¤ Seaborne employees over the age of, say, 50, to be given the option to replace the former shore-based employees. The complement will be determined by the management. The salaries will be retained on personal basis.

¤ According to the collective agreement, the tour of duty may be adjusted at the management's discretion. Therefore, the present "15 days on, 15 days off" shall be replaced by "60 days on and 30 days off" or, alternatively, and possibly on voluntary basis, "120 days on and 120 days off". Those who opt for the latter will get a disturbance allowance for working routes that exclude Malta.

¤ All other conditions of employment will remain unaltered; however, both parties enter into a commitment that within the next eight months they conclude negotiations for a new collective agreement.

In the interest of workers, let us hope that common sense shall prevail. Closing down Sea Malta will be detrimental not only to the company and its employees but also to local industry and the economy. It would also mean goodbye to the local merchant navy. I sympathise with my friend Manuel Zammit, head of the GWU's maritime and aviation section, who will have to face the music in the coming days!

Mr Micallef is the former deputy general secretary of the General Workers' Union.