Interprint offered to GWU 'for free'

The General Workers' Union has turned down an offer to take Interprint Co Ltd for free, according to a spokesman for the Government Investments Ministry.

And in another twist to the saga, the GWU has purportedly offered to buy the doomed company's equipment, according to sources close to the Cabinet.

But when contacted yesterday, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb denied both claims.

The government, which is the sole owner of Interprint, announced it would be closing down the company two months ago, saying it was no longer viable and subsidies were not an option.

Various attempts to sell the company, including one earlier this year, had failed. The 35 remaining employees at the printing press are currently working their notice period until mid-September.

In the meantime, the GWU has said it intends to give notice of industrial action at all places of work, in both public and private sectors, in sympathy with workers in government entities who are faced with redundancy.

A spokesman for the Governments Investments Ministry told The Times the government had offered that the GWU take over Interprint for free, based on the union's own arguments that the government was giving up too easily on the company's viability.

"Seeing that the GWU is in the same line of business, it first had the chance to buy it, then it was available for free, but it still turned it down. This is inconsistent with the union's own arguments that Interprint has a commercial future," the spokesman said.

Sources close to the Cabinet said the GWU had recently asked Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi if it could purchase the equipment owned by Interprint.

When contacted, Mr Zarb denied that the government had offered Interprint for free, replying: "This is news to me. The government seldom gives anything for free".

Asked if his union would take up such an offer, he said he could not make such a commitment.

Mr Zarb said that no offer for Interprint's equipment has been made - for the time being. "Of course there's nothing wrong if we decide in due course to make a reasonable bid for the equipment."

Mr Zarb said he was still expecting the Prime Minister to send for union officials to discuss alternative employment for those government workers whose job is on the line.

"Ultimately our aim is to find a solution," he said.

The Times reported on Monday that 23 of Interprint's workers were in favour of accepting the offer of a termination package.