Ministry accuses GWU of endangering dockyard privatisation and jobs
The Finance Ministry said this evening that a resolution approved by the GWU delegates at Malta Shipyards reflected the GWU’s failure to understand the risks associated with failure of the privatisation of Malta Shipyards. “Indeed, this premature resolution is seriously endangering the whole process and the very future of the workers at the shipyard.
In their resolution, the delegates said that any early retirement scheme, even if agreed between the union and the government, should not be offered until the workers know who will buy the dockyard, and what the plans for the future are.
Furthermore, any workers who received any literature on early retirement schemes should immediately hand it to the union.
GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said the union was not against privatisation of the shipyard. Nor was it against early retirement schemes, but the two had to be brought about through real consultation.
He insisted that those workers who did not wish to take up early retirement schemes should be guaranteed employment by the government because the dockyard and its current state were the government's responsibility..
Mr Zarb called for solidarity among the workers and said that while the government appeared to be trying to divide them, it would fail.
He said the union was not against privatisation of the shipyard. Nor was it against early retirement schemes, but the two had to be brought about through real consultation.
He insisted that those workers who did not wish to take up early retirement schemes should be guaranteed employment by the government because the dockyard and its current state were the government's responsibility..
Mr Zarb called for solidarity among the workers and said that while the government appeared to be trying to divide them, it would fail.
The government earlier this week presented its proposals on early retirement schemes to the GWU and invited it to submit its reaction tomorrow, when a meeting is due.
The government earlier this week presented its proposals on early retirement schemes to the GWU and invited it to submit its reaction tomorrow, when a meeting is due.
The ministry in its reaction said that while it had agreed with the union that the proposed schemes would not be discussed in public, the union had now irresponsible directed the workers to ignore them.
As for guarantees for the employment of the workers, the ministry said the people could not continue to be asked to shoulder the financial burden of the dockyard, currently amounting to £950 million.
“The government is not in a position to give any guarantees to the workers if the privatisation process fails. The GWU is not understanding the serious implications of postponing the publication of the early retirement schemes. Postponement may mean that that there would not be interest in the privatisation process by investors since the government has been informed that no investor would be willing to take on the management of the enterprise in its current state.”
“One also has to bear in mind that the early retirement schemes themselves constitute a considerable financial burden for the people and no one should ask the people to do more,” the ministry said.
The ministry said it was aware that there was a campaign urging the workers not to take up the schemes so as to force the government to seek other solutions.
The minister said it, however, wanted to be clear. There were no other solutions. Whoever was conducting this campaign was irresponsibly deceiving the workers and should be held to account since this could mean that workers would lose both the change of early retirement, as well as their job.
GWU delegates at Malta Shipyards have approved a resolution providing that any early retirement scheme, even if agreed between the union and the government, should not be offered until the workers know who will buy the dockyard, and what the plans for the future are.
In any transfer of business, the workers had a right to know what they were going in for, and this should also apply in the case of the dockyard, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb told a press conference.
He said that any workers who received any literature on early retirement schemes should immediately hand it to the union.
In a press conference earlier, Mr Zarb said the union was not against privatisation of the shipyard. Nor was it against early retirement schemes, but the two had to be brought about through real consultation.
He insisted that those workers who did not wish to take up early retirement schemes should be guaranteed employment by the government because the dockyard and its current state were the government's responsibility..
Mr Zarb called for solidarity among the workers and said that while the government appeared to be trying to divide them, it would fail.
The government earlier this week presented its proposals on early retirement schemes to the GWU and invited it to submit its reaction tomorrow, when a meeting is due.
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John B.Vincenti
Aug 1st 2008, 14:20
Dear Mr.Vella,
There is nothing to feel sorry for since I totally agree with you. I speak from the experience of having worked in the Public and Private sectors and also abroad.
Furthermore, no fingers were pointed, no names were mentioned, I just mentioned a fact of Maltese life.
Again you are totally correct, we are what people perceive us to be be. Congratulations are due to many quarters who contributed to the desired result of total character assassination of many a decent worker.
Yes the nonsense has to stop, so much so, that I mentioned that I am in total agreement with Privitisation. Unfortunately, I have lost all respect for all Maltese Political Decisions.
A.Vella
Aug 1st 2008, 12:27
I am sorry to say this John Vincenti, but common mortals like me who work in the private sector rarely get anything back from our taxes, and if your job gives you and your collegeaus so much hardship, then this is the perfect opportunity to have your "well deserved" rest.
Besides, you really should not point fingers at the wrongdoings of other workers/employers, because whether you like or not, the perception is that you are amongst the worst of the lot.
The statistics are there, the dockyard wasted one third of our national debt, so far, it is more than the time to stop this nonsense.
John B.Vincneti
Aug 1st 2008, 11:19
Reading the preceeding articles, one can conclude that every few people have a clue about what they are talking.
Unless that can at least try to contemplate or had experienced the conditions that the Shipyard workers face on a daily basis, they may reason in a different way.
Whilst many are presently enjoying their summer holidays , their half-days, their annual sick leave entitlement (irrespective if they are sick or not), the benefits of their TAX and VAT evasion, their retirement + golden handshakes after 25 years service, their 2/3 pensions above the national capping, their "French Leave" etc, we still have PAYE workers ( yes we pay taxes too) with 30/40 years service going down in the bowels of vessels and working in unbearable conditions. Many times this same enviroment would put any coal mine to shame.
True, we have our fair share of Leaches, show me somewhere where there are not. Unfortunately there is a stinking Political agenda to all this that raises eyebrows to the more well informed.
Yes, as a Shipyard Manager and Worker, I am all for Privitisation. Be interesting to see the end result of a Privatised Government and Public Sector as well.
Anthony Briffa
Aug 1st 2008, 08:32
The GWU is fighting for its own survival and not for the interest of the workers. The workers should not heed to impassioned speeches and realize that the tax payers’ money will not come their way anymore. Malta cannot afford to waste any funds, which could be put to better use for the benefit of the whole community. It seems that the GWU learned nothing from the way it handled the Sea Malta privatization process. Before deciding to refuse the early retirement scheme and start putting conditions to the prospective buyers, the workers should stop and reflect what would be their position should the privatization process fails – they would be out of a job by the end of the year and they would have lost those monies, which are rightfully theirs. Meantime the GWU hierarchy would still be in its place receiving the high salaries and benefits. Workers have to be pragmatic in their thinking and put their interest first. The workers have to realize that job security comes through productivity and profits and not through subsidies. Finally, there is more than one drydock in Europe for grabs by investors, so let us not lose this golden chance.
Dr Alfred Galea
Aug 1st 2008, 08:23
we need to know how much cash loss there was during the time the Drydocks was managed by the works. what was the Capital Expediture? What money was written as bad debts? What money is still owing?
We need to know the same balances in the present day situation. What amount of money would this privitisation be costing us?
What money is needed to send all workers home and give them unemployement benefits or pension?
This is the major history of the Maltese.
No DEAL, let us have a referendum.
Charles P Cilia
Aug 1st 2008, 00:32
Mr. Louis Balzan. The number of Dockyard workers need to be between 800 and 1000 before potential buyers become interested. Hence early retirement schemes which are open to EVERYONE must come first.
Meaning, that the small core of tradesmen which in reality makes up the dockyards, can opt for a golden handshake and be immediately re-employed by the new owners maybe with better conditions. The rest of the ancillary workers should also welcome a golden handshake, be retrained while receiving unemployment benefit until they find other jobs.
I never understood the General Workers Union, their history when it comes to its members was always questionable. Like the disputes with the Dragonara and Phoenicia Hotels, Sea Malta, Port Workers and others. Not forgetting the classic, of claiming to have numerous reports advocating against Malta joining the European Union because it is detrimental to their members and Malta in general.
By the way, have any of those reports even seen the light of day? No I’m sorry I have no faith in the GWU. Members should be cautious before they act.
J Micallef
Aug 1st 2008, 00:29
As expected the GWU parrots what the MLP press releases state, word by word.
The MLP and the GWU are cut off from reality. Which prospective investor will take 1,700 workers? The status quo is no longer. Dream on, GWU
Randolph Bugeja
Jul 31st 2008, 23:47
Are the GWU and Public Transport Federation competing among themselves as to who manages to inflict the most harm upon its members?
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 31st 2008, 23:13
@ Tony Zarb,
When are you going to learn THE lesson? Do you remember what happened to your predecessor Mr. Anglu Fenech in relation to the Phoenicia dispute? I am afraid you are heading in the same direction. I do NOT pity you! You have been warned and the writing is on the wall, load and clear. Enjoy your retirement.
L Vella
Jul 31st 2008, 22:54
@Mr. Balzan
You seem to think like Mr. Zarb that we will actually attract a buyer for our Dockyards with a full compliment of 1700 employees. I really do not think so. It is more likely that if the workers take the early retirement schemes the tax payer will pay AGAIN (for the LAST TIME) - if not the workers alone will be paying and the GWU - I wonder where they will be.
A.Dalli
Jul 31st 2008, 22:40
I hope the opposition, Joey Muscat, speaks up against this GWU madness, this illogical step taken by the GWU. If Joey/MLP do not speak against this crass idiocy then I am afraid Mr. Muscat, you will be labeled as gwap as your predecessor....and forget new leadership, new MLP. You know well, how the majority of the Maltese are sick and tired of sustaining the shipyards, so I presume you know where public opinion is on this subject. Let Toni Zarb and the GWU sink with the anchor they have just put around their neck by declaring this last farce.... But the MLP still has a choice... it's up to you if you want to go down with them
A.Vella
Jul 31st 2008, 21:45
So, it seems that the GWU wants to know who the dockyard will be sold to and at the same time the interested company/s will need to know the ammount of workers they will be obliged to shoulder for a given time. In other words, it is a deadlock situation. Lots of time will be wasted, and this will put the interested company/s in a btter situation, meaning an increase in their demands.
Wake up dockyard workers, you are the main loosers in this situation, people are fed up of shouldering the irresponsibilities commited behind those gates, the more time you loose the more the tide will turn against you, and the goverment will have the full support of the public this time round, as it did in the transpot strike.
C. Buttigieg
Jul 31st 2008, 21:27
Was Sea Malta not a good enough lesson? Do we have to make a political issue with everything that happens in Malta? And since when is any worker guaranteed employment? No one owes anything in the world today and that is why the dock yard is in the mess it is in, because they have always thought that this country owes them a living. Grow up Mr Zarb.
John Azzopardi
Jul 31st 2008, 21:15
Phoenicia all over again! No-body owes these people a living. Like everyone else, they have to work for a living, not live on taxpayers' handouts. On with privatisation!
Lewis Balzan
Jul 31st 2008, 20:44
The union members' move to first know who will buy the dockyard and what the future plans are before committing themselves to accepting or not early retirement not only makes sense but it should have been anticipated by the Government. Under normal circumstances an early retirement scheme would be implemented to satisfy specific conditions (number, age bracket, redundant skills etc) made by the prospective buyer and not by the selling party.
J Martinelli
Jul 31st 2008, 20:24
Has the last bit of sanity vacated the brains of the GWU ? They want to approve who buys the shipyards ? Incredible arrogance!
They still fail to understand that the flow of euros from the taxpayer to the shipyard will cease on December 31, 2008. If a buyer is not found, the doors will be locked and 1700 will be out of a job. To add insult to injury, the union appears to be inciting the workers not to accept any early retirement packages offered by the government! And this is the same union which claims to represent and safeguard the workers at the shipyard! Too incredulous.
Enough is enough. The government's proposal should be the last one and either the GWU takes it or risk jeopardizing the livelihood of the workers.
Tony Zarb is not dealing in good faith because he has his own agenda and also panders for other behind the scene political interests. His history is tainted enough and he cannot disguise his irrational actions.
Let the taxpayers express their opinion and I would dare guess that three out of four will support the government as they did in the public transport dispute.
Wistin Schembri
Jul 31st 2008, 20:21
Deja` vu?! Sea Malta
joseph farrugia
Jul 31st 2008, 19:41
will the GWU ever learn? The people had voted for the goverment not for theGWU so it is the goverment who decide to whom to sell the dockyard not the GWU.We know that the goverment will do his best for the workers and malta ,because the GWU will only do what is best for the MLP. One word for the workers remember the Hotel Pheoncia drama and don't let the GWU use you as it always did. ONCE BITIN TWICE SHY
M Grech
Jul 31st 2008, 19:22
All animals are equal. but some are (according to Mr. Zarb) more equal than others. Other workers in less bankrupt companies have been shown the door without as much fanfare and providential retirement schemes. Dockyard workers expect a government employment after refusing a retirement scheme offer. Come on, grow up please!
Liam Kelly
Jul 31st 2008, 19:15
If the workers are being offered early retirement why do they need to know who is going to buy the dockyards? Surely if any agreement is made with the government it will be taxpayer who is going to foot the bill regardless of who buys the yards. Northern Rock anyone?
Jason Stivala
Jul 31st 2008, 18:42
Unbelievable. a union..which claims to seek the interest of the workers...!
when it is so evident to everyone that the success of the privatisation depends on the collective retirement schemes, why does it want to wait for the buyer to be known?
SIMPLE: It wants the process to FAIL. Why? It does not want to lose out on members.
Risk? Shipyards closign down.
Unbelievable.