GWU requests further talks on shipyards

The General Workers' Union yesterday asked the government to convene another meeting on the shipyards to discuss pending issues with a view to reaching agreement.

The government, union and shipyards' management have been engaged in talks that so far have taken over 40 hours but left differences on two crucial issues: an across-the-board wage rise and the future of the 900 workers needed to be shed off.

The union issued its statement following a meeting of the executive committees representing workers and managers at the shipyards, convened to evaluate the situation following Saturday's marathon meeting, when both sides reported "more progress", but ended with the two crucial issues unresolved.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said on Sunday the union's demands were justified as they were within the government's budget for the 'yards and were "partly based on performance and on the skills of the 'yard workers".

Dr Gonzi, on the other hand, said the union's proposal of a wage rise undermined the performance-related concept the government wanted to introduce. He stressed that increases would be given only after changes in work practices were introduced and urged the union to revise its position.

The GWU said its letter of yesterday to Dr Gonzi was a clear message that the government should not to lose an opportunity that could lead to an agreement.

Dr Gonzi is to brief the cabinet about the situation this morning.

Government sources said that had the union not written its letter yesterday, the government would have taken a number of decisions today and the union would have ended up "with another Phoenicia on its hands".

The "Phoenicia" reference is to the situation when, during prolonged negotiations with the management of the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana in the late '80s, the GWU kept insisting for more, leading to the hotel closing down and the employees being made redundant.