127 workers opt for public sector return

Maltapost employees rushed to sign up for a return to the public sector just before their deadline expired yesterday, bringing the final number of those who will make the transfer to 127 - just 33 short of the number needed to make the company viable.

By Thursday, those who had declared their interest in going back to government employment was a mere 70, but a spokesman for Maltapost confirmed that as at 5 p.m. yesterday, the figure had gone up to 127.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin and Maltapost have been in a war of words over what would happen if the offer was not taken up.

On Thursday, company chairman Frank Dimech declared that the workforce would have to be reduced. His comment provoked the wrath of the union, which insisted it would not cooperate with reforms unless it was guaranteed there would be no redundancies or demotions.

The two sides have been at loggerheads since last October when the company announced it had a surplus of 266 employees, which would hinder its restructuring plans.

The government stepped in, committing itself to take on 160 former employees with no change to their conditions or rights. The offer of a return was made to 330 Maltapost employees.

The General Workers' Union yesterday condemned what it termed as the pressure put by Maltapost on the former government employees through The Times interview with Mr Dimech, who said 160 jobs had to be reduced at all costs.