Shipyard workers warned of tough times ahead

Shipyard worker-director Jesmond Tanti yesterday described the workers as being "down and demoralised" and warned them of tough times ahead.

Addressing a crowd of shipbuilding workers at the Marsa 'yard on the issues of shipyard reform and working conditions, he recognised they had become very uneasy after the government announced the workforce would be reduced by a further 900.

"Who are these 900 workers? Have they been identified? Why is the government so determined to ruin the shipyards," Mr Tanti asked.

The situation had become very worrying, he said, accusing the government of playing with the livelihood of thousands of families.

"Why is the government only focusing on the viability of the shipyards? Is it adopting the same attitude towards other places of work which have also been declared as not viable?"

He told the workers they should not allow anyone to play about with their daily "bread and butter".

The workers, Mr Tanti said, were willing to see reforms going ahead at the shipyards but not at the expense of 900 workers: "The government is out of order".

Firing 900 workers was not the solution because the 'yards could not become viable with a shrinking workforce, he said, adding: "If the government's true objective is to close down the 'yards it should have the courage to say so".

The government has warned Malta Drydocks and the General Workers' Union that unless agreement is reached on a reform of the shipyards it is prepared to implement proposals contained in the Appledore report, which had suggested that workers who are not needed by the dockyard should be sent home on basic pay.

A few days ago Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said the country was at the point of no return over the issue and that decisions needed to be taken to ensure that the 'yards would finally become viable.