Friday, 18th July 2008
Building firms say transport strike cost them over €1 million a day
Twelve construction companies yesterday filed a judicial protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the Federation of Public Transport and all the members, the Public Transport Association, the Motor Hearses Association, the White Taxis Amalgamated, Coop Services Limited and the Blue Grotto Boat Association.
The protest was filed by B & B Construction Ltd, Bonnici Bros Contractors Ltd, C & F Building Contractors Ltd, Carin Construction Ltd, Denfar Concrete Supplies Ltd, Elbros Construction Ltd, G & P Borg Ltd, Polidano Brothers Ltd, Rite-Mix (Gatt Bros) Ltd, Sammut Concrete Supplies Ltd, Tal-Magħtab Construction Co Ltd and V & C Contractors.
Referring to the indefinite strike affecting public transport called by the Transport Federation, the companies claimed they were suffering damages in excess of €1 million a day.
They claimed that the federation and its members were criminally blocking the free passage of the contractors' vehicles, leading the companies to suffer damages resulting in loss of work and loss of materials. Furthermore, the majority of the companies' employees could not carry out any work due to the strike action.
The 12 companies claimed they were being exposed to contractual damages, including penalty clauses as a result of their inability to carry out works. While recognising the fundamental right to take industrial action, they argued that the strike action called by the federation was criminal, illegal and abusive.
The companies concluded by calling upon the federation and its members to halt their illegal and criminal action and to make good the damages they had sustained.
The protest was signed by lawyers Adrian Delia, John L. Gauci, Chris Grima and Paul Gauci Maistre.
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Comments
Their reputation of having converted Malta into one dusty cementized building site, causing significant long-term discomfort to many residents all over the country, does not seem to be the ideal moral base from which they may launch their claims.
The matter-of-fact closure of the St Paul's Bay by-pass is a recent example how this lobby group feels it owns the island. So many residents have to suffer intrusion into their homes as a result of adjacent works, with little by way of remedy.
Mepa's woes, moreover, may know a source through this powerful lobby group as projects 'evolve' through a process that may not be immediately transparent.
Finally, their claim may be a good indicator of their earning power and Government may want to reconcile their claim with taxes they pay into the collective coffer.