Car importers deem industrial action untimely

Members of the Association of Car Importers Malta yesterday filed a judicial protest accusing the General Workers' Union of acting illegally and abusively in their regard.

The protest was filed by Continental Cars (Imports) Ltd, Muscats Motors Ltd, Industrial Motors Ltd, Michael Attard Ltd, Gasan Enterprises Ltd, UCIM Co. Ltd, Mizzi Organisation Automative Ltd and Auto Sales Ltd.

They said that when the collective agreement between them and the GWU lapsed in December 2004, they sent their proposals for a new collective agreement to the secretary of the union section they dealt with.

The union replied, making its own proposals and two meetings were held between the parties to discuss the new agreement. However, both were inconclusive.

Another meeting was scheduled for last Tuesday but the association's representative informed the union that some of the association members were unable to attend.

Another conciliation meeting was then scheduled for today week. However, by means of a letter dated May 16, the GWU's section secretary told the association that as its members had not attended the May 16 meeting, industrial action would commence.

The car importing companies said in their judicial protest that industrial action in fact started yesterday even though the GWU was bound in terms of the collective agreement to give the association members 24 hours notice in writing.

Furthermore, the companies added, the collective agreement stipulated that industrial action could only be taken after official proceedings had failed to produce an agreement.

They argued that the negotiations between the parties had not been concluded, and that although the collective agreement had lapsed, its terms and conditions were still applicable until such time as new conditions were finalised.

The car importers claimed that the union's actions were untimely and in breach of the collective agreement and was causing them to suffer damages.

Lawyer Charisse Ellul signed the protest.