Rehearsals in St John's Oratory to stop after pressure by GWU

The General Workers Union's media and services section has been vindicated after a week of wrangling with St John's Co-Cathedral foundation, which has finally agreed to give part-time custodians the benefits they are entitled to according to law.

But even more importantly, the union has succeeded in ensuring that within a month there will be no more rehearsals in the Oratory on Sunday mornings.

Earlier last week, the union had complained that full-time custodians, who are responsible for security at St John's, have, for the past three months, been absent while a 40-strong choir carries out rehearsals on Sunday mornings metres away from the two priceless Caravaggios - The Beheading of St John and St Jerome.

The foundation had refuted this, arguing that there was enough security. However, the fact that the foundation had now agreed to stop rehearsals there proved the union was right in its complaints, Karmenu Vella, the section secretary for media and services, said.

Mr Vella expressed satisfaction that the priceless exhibits at the Oratory would now be better protected.

The union and the foundation bridged the gap during a conciliation meeting presided over by the director of labour and industrial relations, Frank Pullicino.

The foundation bound itself to give part-time custodians the benefits they were entitled to according to law and which they had not been given since their appointment.

Discussions between the union and the foundation are to continue on Friday.