'Yards agreement 'will not be changed'

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has made it unequivocally clear the government does not intend to change "even a single comma" of the shipyards collective agreement, signed recently following lengthy negotiations between the management, the General Workers' Union and the government.

He was asked for his comments after 'yard sources told The Times a number of people hoping to take over the reins of the GWU's metal and construction section were promising to change a number of clauses in the collective agreement if elected. They are arguing they had not been aware of such clauses.

The union is set to elect a new executive committee for the section later this month.

Two people have cast their nominations for the post of president: Pawlu Attard, a former worker director, and Joe Demicoli, who now serves with Industrial Projects and Services Ltd.

Charles Agius (known as il-panca) and Jesmond Tanti, the former worker director at Malta Shipbuilding, are contesting the post of section secretary. One of Mr Agius' proposers is former 'yard chairman Sammy Meilaq.

Marco Zammit, Alfred Cassar and Victor Camilleri, the former section president, secretary and assistant secretary respectively, have not submitted their nominations.

The collective agreement for Malta Shipyards was negotiated by union officials, led by general secretary Tony Zarb, deputy general secretary Manwel Micallef and by Karmenu Vella and Mr Cassar, the two section secretaries representing the 'yard workers.

While talks were in progress, the executive committees of both sections were kept informed about the progress being made. At the end of the negotiations, a full-day meeting was convened and all the points amended from previous agreements were explained and discussed with delegates, who then approved the agreement.