Maltapost calls for urgent meeting as union orders action

Maltapost has expressed surprise at the Union Haddiema Maghqudin's announcement that it is to embark on a series of strike actions starting tomorrow.

Speaking to The Times last night, a spokesman for Maltapost said that since the UHM refused to meet management, the management had now asked the Director of Employee Relations Noel Vella to call an urgent conciliation meeting. The union informed Maltapost's chief executive yesterday that it will be ordering a series of wildcat strikes over the long-pending collective agreement, though it refrained from giving details.

The union's public entities' section said it was forced to resort to these industrial actions after the management persisted in introducing a number of clauses in the collective agreement, which led to a deterioration in working conditions.

"The management simply cannot keep treating Maltapost workers in such an arrogant manner," said section secretary Jesmond Bonello, who claimed workers are under undue pressure because of this.

Among these clauses, the management was threatening workers with dismissal for failing to wear a uniform and for reporting late for work, Mr Bonello said.

The UHM convened its action committee yesterday to draw up a series of industrial actions.

Maltapost said it was surprised by the union's decision since it was under the impression that discussions about the collective agreement were still going on. In fact, during the last meeting on January 12, the two sides had agreed on the agenda for two other meetings, one on Friday and the other on February 9.

"In the circumstances, notwithstanding these forthcoming planned meetings, Maltapost is as always available to meet before these dates, even on a daily basis if necessary, to bring the collective agreement to a satisfactory conclusion," the management said.

In view of this situation, Maltapost said it expected the union to withdraw its notice of industrial action.