Cleaners' transfer sparks shipyard protest over dirty toilets

Some 300 shipyard workers yesterday staged an in-house protest in front of the management's office complaining that their washing and resting facilities, known as the box racks, had not been cleaned.

The General Workers' Union's metal workers section secretary, Alfred Cassar downplayed the protest: "It was not something official and it was during their break. Workers protested because toilets were dirty and we give cleanliness a priority.

"The problem arose because cleaners at the drydocks are usually former 'yard workers on light duty and these have now been transferred to Industrial Projects and Services Ltd or offered retirement or redundancy schemes.

"When I was informed about the protest, I told workers to go back to work and phoned the management and the issue was resolved," Mr Cassar said.

The protest may well be a symptom of the difficult atmosphere which sources say exists at both the Drydocks and Marsa shipyards following the agreement to restructure the two 'yards.

The government, following agreement with the union and management, has embarked on a restructuring process and following the signing of the collective agreement, 900 workers have been transferred to the new company, IPS Ltd, while the other 1,600 have been absorbed by Malta Shipyards Ltd.

Half of those sent to IPS Ltd have protested with the management and were sent a letter explaining why they had been chosen, sources said.

The selection of the 900 was made following assessment by the line management and a re-assessment was later made to ensure that it was fair, according to the sources.

Just over 250 of the 900 transferred to IPS Ltd have so far opted for early retirement, and up to 500 are expected to do so. The rest will be assigned duties with local councils, government departments or public-private partnerships.

The sources said many of those who had been chosen to go to IPS Ltd had medical certificates which they had presented to the management in 2001 when the amalgamation of the Shipbuilding and Drydocks 'yards was in the offing.

Some 30 'yard workers have also written to the management requesting to be transferred from Malta Shipyards to IPS Ltd or be given the opportunity to leave the drydocks and receive the lump sum payment or retire early.