The GWU said today that it would continue to hold talks with the government in the interests of the workers, but it denied having ever been informed of any plans to privatise Malta Shipyards.

Reacting to comments made in Parliament yesterday, the union said the government decision to privatise the dockyard was unilateral and the fact that it was taken quickly led people to wonder how genuine the government was in its action.

The union said that meetings which the Prime Minister had mentioned in his statement in the House had discussed everyday matters and not privatisation.

The GWU said it still felt that privatisation was not the only option for the shipyard. It also insisted that hiving off Boiler Wharf and the Tank Cleaning Farm from the shipyard would seriously undermine its capacity.

In continuing its talks with the government, the union said it would insist that there was no imposition and that workers were kept informed of development.