Port workers in first round of talks on port reform

The General Workers' Union port workers' committee, accompanied by George Abela, former GWU legal advisor, yesterday held the first round of talks about port reform at the Malta Maritime Authority's offices at the waterfront in Valletta.

The meeting lasted close to two hours and was held with the port reform negotiating team made up of Marc Bonello, Louis Bonello and Sonny Portelli.

At the meeting, the port workers were briefed about the "radical change" the government wants in ports as part of the reform.

The seven-man union committee were led by GWU section secretary Manwel Zammit, who declined to comment prior to the meeting. But the port workers' shop steward, Joe Saliba, expressed his satisfaction at the union administration that had finally understood their position and accepted Dr Abela to assist them in the negotiations.

The majority of the port workers had signed a petition demanding that the negotiations on port reform should be conducted by Mr Zammit and Dr Abela, rather than by the union administration.

The workers said they did not want to face the same situation as had developed at Sea Malta, which had resulted in the loss of all the jobs there.

The GWU's executive committee had accepted that Dr Abela conducts the negotiations alongside the section representatives but this arrangement had led to a rift with the union administration. The union's council was convened with urgency and following a discussion, the council decided that all decisions had to be suspended and talks held so that the workers would make their case with the administration to explain why Dr Abela's presence was needed.

A meeting was held on Monday and port workers turned down a suggestion that the current legal advisors Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Aaron Mifsud Bonnici would also be present.

It was decided that the union's council would be convened again but no date was set.

But representatives of the port workers' committee before yesterday's meeting said the administration had accepted their position because although the council was not convened, the section secretary was present for the meeting.

Contacted for his reactions after the meeting, Dr Abela said the workers were satisfied that they made the union recognise their right to chose those people who could best safeguard their interests.

"They chose section secretary Manwel Zammit and their section committee and opted for my legal advice. I augur that the workers' decisions are respected and that no one would put any spanners in the works so that the workers' interest would prevail," Dr Abela said.