Business as usual at Freeport

Operations at the Freeport returned to normal yesterday after the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU called off industrial action by hauliers who started processing containers again after a three-day stoppage.

The dispute was about a new tariff regime the GRTU argued would push up port-related costs substantially and a decision by the Freeport to transfer its cash office from Marsa to Birzebbuga.

As a result, hauliers were directed not to process containers from the Freeport, a move that effectively halted all movement of cargo through the terminal. The action drew fierce criticism from the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Industry. The GRTU called off the action yesterday morning just before a meeting with the Prime Minister in the afternoon.

After the meeting, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said the hauliers had the opportunity to explain in detail what sort of logistical nightmare the Freeport's proposed cash office transfer to Birzebbuga would present to them.

"We have now called off our actions and the hauliers are working in overdrive to get the cargo cleared as soon as possible," Mr Farrugia said.

"However, the Chamber of Commerce and the FOI will know tomorrow what we were talking about when their clients receive bills upped by Lm33.25 on 20-foot containers and Lm56.80 on 40 footers."

The Prime Minister is now expected to meet with all the parties involved to come up with a solution to the issues raised by the hauliers.

The Chamber of Commerce, the FOI and the Malta Employers' Association expressed satisfaction that the industrial action had been lifted.

"In this particular case, where the dispute was so trivial, business and industry have been unnecessarily harmed," they said. Later in the afternoon, the Malta Maritime Authority held a meeting with shipping agents to iron out the issues on the new tariffs regime.

MMA chairman Marc Bonello had told The Times, when the dispute started, that the whole issue related to a misunderstanding over the price increases.

When cleared with the shipping agents, the new tariffs regime should produce a drop in costs, he had said.