GWU resistance to change endangering dockyard jobs - Gonzi

The Prime Minister has told the GWU that its mentality of not recognising the need for certain change at Malta Shipyards was very harmful to the workers.

Dr Gonzi wrote to GWU general secretary Tony Zarb in reply to a letter from Mr Zarb seeking assurances on the future of the dockyard.

In his letter Mr Zarb said that the union had noted Dr Gonzi’s comment that he did not intend to downsize the shipyard. He said the union was requesting a reply in writing for the following:

Whether the decision not to downsize the shipyard would also apply to the future;

Whether he was prepared to hold talks with the EU so that the agreement on the shipyards could be reviewed so that the shipyard could assure its future:

That he was prepared to do this in agreement with the GWU;

And whether he was prepared to replace the executive management, which had failed in its targets.

In his reply, Dr Gonzi said the Nationalist Party in government had always believed that the dockyard could be viable if everybody pulled at the same rope, if everybody did his duty and if everybody was committed towards the same purpose.

This was what had guided the government in the past four years and this was the commitment of a new PN government after the general election.

This commitment, Dr Gonzi said, was also reflected in the PN electoral programme, which said that the government would continue the dockyard restructuring programme in other to achieve viability in line with the agreement forming part of the EU accession package.

Dr Gonzi said the PN shared the people’s general sentiment that the only real road for the dockyard was economic viability and not operational subsidies, Whoever claimed that there could be subsidies on operations after 2008 was not being honest. The EU’s declared position was that this could not happen. Any assistance to the shipyard after 2008 had to be addressed specifically for training and investment.

“The government continues to commit itself to use EU funds, even after susbsidies cease at the end of 2008, for the training of workers so that the restructuring plan can continue successfully” Dr Gozni said.

Dr Gonzi said the GWU was wrong to try to give its members hopes which could not be achieved. The responsible position was to see, as of now, how one could work to ensure the viability of the shipyard.

Such viability had be built on three pillars: an increase in productivity, partnership with reputed operators who could introduce training, innovation and modern practices in the shipyard and better use of the facilities currently in shipyard hands.

Dr Gonzi said productivity was still too low when compared to competitors. The GWU could not escape this issue since both the workers and the management were its members.

As for the partnership with foreign reputable operators, Dr Gonzi said he could not but condemn the GWU threat of industrial action just because the yard had been talking with an overseas firm about a possible partnership in the superyacht business.

As for the use of facilities, here too, Dr Gonzi said, he had to strongly condemn the industrial action ordered by the union because it disagreed that Boiler Wharf should be allocated for cruise liners.

“The GWU mentality of not recognising the need for certain development is very harmful to the dockyard’s workers. Whoever truly wants the best for the dockyard workers cannot have a mentality which is very similar to the time when the ‘yard was run by the Admirality rather than what is needed today to make the shipyard commercially viable.”

“The dockyard workers’ future is being endangered by resistance to change and by a belief that politics comes before workers’ jobs.”

Dr Gonzi said that while he had restated the government’s commitment, its aims could not be achieved without full collaboration by the workers and the GWU which represented them.

The government firmly believed in the capabilities of the Maltese workers. There was a need, however, for the GWU to allow the workers to develop those capabilities.