Workers 'have right to take to the streets'

The shipyards were not the only enterprise facing an employment problem, General Workers' Union general secretary Tony Zarb said yesterday.

Speaking at a rally for workers at the union's headquarters in Valletta, he said the government's strategy was aimed at hiding other problems, such as in the case of health, education and social services. Maltese workers, he added, were paying their taxes and so expect to receive such services.

He said a foreign organisation was telling the government to reduce the number of civil servants. Port workers were also being expected to lower their standard of living.

The wage freeze being mentioned by the government would not only affect the shipyards as para-statal companies were already telling the union they were not ready to give any increases.

Workers had a right to take to the streets and the union would not mind taking this action. However, it would do everything in an organised manner.