UHM declares industrial dispute at Go

(Adds GWU reaction)

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin has registered an industrial dispute with Go plc over delays in talks on a new collective agreement at Go Mobile and uncertainty over the direction the group is following, especially following the launching of an early retirement scheme.

The union said uncertainty and lack of information was seriously worrying the workers at Go Plc (formerly Maltacom) and Go Mobile.

The union said that over the past few days a voluntary early retirement scheme was launched, aimed at a specific category of workers. The letter announcing the scheme warned that this would be the last offer of its kind and if its purpose was not achieved, the company would take other measures in terms of the law.

The union said its requests to meet the management had not been met.

It also claimed that workers were being transferred from Go to Go Mobile under different conditions in what appeared to be efforts to demoralise some workers at Go Mobile.

The union said it had sought a meeting with the Prime Minister to explain the current situation.

The GWU in a statement said a collective agreement already existed for the workers of Go plc (formerly Maltacom) and it would not expire before the end of next year. The union, therefore, would not accept any changes without its consent.

The GWU said that if the UHM had industrial problems with Go Mobile, it should address them with the management of Go Mobile and not involve the workers of another company.

On the early retirement schemes, the GWU said they were always open to Go plc workers and not those of Go Mobile. The union said it would call a meeting for Go plc workers in the coming days to discuss the implications of the scheme.