Muscat calls for "real choice" for dockyard workers
Labour leader Joseph Muscat this afternoon urged the government to give dockyard workers the option to join IPSL - Industrial Projects and Services Ltd - if they did not take up the early retirement scheme.
Speaking before a meeting with the GWU leadership, Dr Muscat said the government had so far given the workers a Hobson's choice - accept the retirement schemes or the shipyard would be declared bankrupt.
In 2003, when the last restructuring of the shipyard was made, the workers could opt to stay at the dockyard, opt for early retirement or join IPSL - a government owned company, he pointed out.
The Labour leader said Malta Shipyards was in the current situation because of a lack of serious planning and a lack of accountability in the implementation of restructuring plans.
Furthermore, the government was not keeping its electoral promise not to downsize the shipyard.
Dr Muscat regretted that the government had not taken up the MLP suggestion for a common front on national issues such as this and the situation at ST Microelectronics.
He said that the MLP, as a representative of the workers and taxpayers, was demanding a reply to various questions, such as who was responsible for the losses made by the shipyard on a number of contracts, and why the shipyard had been engaging foreigners instead of Maltese.
An investigation was needed on the former. This, he said, was not intended to stall the privatisation process.
Dr Muscat also observed that the government was talking to two companies from Singapore and another from Norway which had shown an interest in the shipyard. At what level were the talks being held, once the call for expressions of interest had not been made yet? Was there a preferred bidder already?
And how was the government deciding how many workers the dockyard needed to shed before privatisation?
Dr Muscat complained of the lack of choice facing the dockyard workers and said other workers, such as at the freeport and Maltapost, had been treated more favourably.
Malta Shipyards was an important national asset and a Labour government would have tackled current problems differently. It felt that restructuring needed to form part of the harbour regeneration with strict deadlines for the creation of a new maritime industry.
The MLP, agreed with privatisation and joint ventures with the private sector using European best practice.
The MLP also felt that Malta needed a good medium and long term industrial policy and it was prepared to join the government in the drawing up of this policy. What it did not want was a situation where the government solved one problem and created 10, Dr Muscat said. The MLP wanted productive workers, not workers paid to retire.
The Labour leader urged the GWU to safeguard workers' interests while also being mindful of the national interest.
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DVella
Aug 12th 2008, 15:29
@Joe Galea:
You really need some education and manners, especially in how you relate and communciate with other people!!!
OH and GET A LIFE as well ! ! ! Karl Abela is quite right!
Karl Abela
Aug 8th 2008, 19:31
@ Joe Galea: NOONE TELLS ANYONE TO SHUT UP!!!! Not under the current administration at least. This is not the Dom Mintoff Era.
Put blame on the GWU, because if it were for them they let the MDD open for another 20 years at the country's expense. The government tried to act much earlier and we all know what what kind of strikes were ordered by the GWU when this topic was brought up.
I have never read the letter that the workers received and it would be very interesting if we can see a copy of this in some way or another. However it is certain that Gonzi NEVER promised anything unrealistic about the MDD. Even the EU's zero tolerance about non profit making companies is clear. This is not rocket science. If, for once, you let politics aside I think you will understand. All you need to do is breakaway from the Alfred Sant mentality (partit tal-LE).
Joe Galea
Aug 8th 2008, 08:23
@ Karl Abela: How can you say so if you haven't received the letter the dock workers have received before the elections? So if yo aren't informed well, then shut up.
@Angelo Micallef: The more you speak the more you remind me of a lady snob from madliena.
Dr. Muscat has plainly said that he prefers seeing people working proactively rather being paid a hefty sum for soing nothing. To all those who are always ready to interpret wrongly or spin anything MLP declares, then take a break and get a life please.
It's unbelievable how all PN 'Catholic' apologists show hatred in unison against everyone...the bus drivers, the dockyard workers....who's next?
Since you are claiming that Dock workers do not deliver up to what is expected, then let's fire the whole government because in 20 years in power there was never a deadline reached. Then when something is finished supposedly with a long term guarantee (e.g. St. MPaul's Bay bypass) then it has to be redone allover again after a short while...not mentioning the overbudgeting we taxpayers have to dish out to fund their incompetencies.
F Sammut
Aug 8th 2008, 06:51
If the Nats had wanted to close down the Dockyards they had 20 years and 950 million reasons to do so many years ago. The writing has been on the wall in the last few years and Gonzi did warn of dire circumstances. The facts are what they are and the retirement schemes being offered are voluntary - it may be a no brainer but the fact is that if they get enough taking the scheme and finding employment elsewhere then everyone is looked after. The problem is that many are not interested in working and that the Govt lifeline has come to an end. Now is the time to look forward.
Joseph Muscat has said nothing new and has already set the pattern of stating the obvious. Those who think Joseph Muscat came up with a brilliant suggestion must also think that re-electing Jason was the key to election victory - dream on folks....
Edwin Formosa
Aug 8th 2008, 04:22
When cottonera docks failed Mintoff opened a new one at Marsa and solved the problem. Why doesn't Muscat suggest a similar solution ?
Karl Abela
Aug 8th 2008, 01:52
Dear Chris Borg, you just dont want get it do you? Its not just the dockyard workers, it could be any one that is draining our hard earned money. You and your friends keep hiding behind a lie that was invented about GonziPN (that he promised he will never downsize) and you just dont want to see reality. It is hard to believe that ignorant and politically blinded people like you fail to reason this out. Even Joseph Muscat believes that the dock yard needs to be either privatised or close its doors, so why on earth do you keep talking in a negative, destructive and alfred santish way? There is no hatred towards these people, hatred is just in your head... a hatred that was nurtured by your ex political leaders that ruined half the country's population. This is not Schadenfreude, this is being fair with the tax payers. Yes, and there are other government owned corporations that will face the music too. One at a time. GonziPN will 'cut the breast feed'.
And for your info, I work in a hotel, we literally dedicate our lives to make our bread and butter a success.
Kurt Farrugia
Aug 7th 2008, 23:55
The way Joseph Muscat is treating the dockyards issue shows maturity and sensitivity to the tax payer and the workers alike.
What the Times STRANGELY hid in its report is that Joseph Muscat is saying about the retirement schemes:
Instead of paying off workers from people's money to stay at home, find these skilled workers a job within the public service. This would mean they can contribute to the economy and pay taxes rather than stay at home or even worse find a job without declaring an income.
Clearly some of the intelligent big-heads writing here fail to comment on a positive proposal which makes economic sense for the taxpayer, and the workers themselves.
Byron Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 23:49
Dear C.Mizzi,
In politics you don't go personal, mate.
Francis Attard
Aug 7th 2008, 22:22
Dr.Muscat, you are still an MEP, why don't you present a motion in the European Parliament so that the Drydocks will continue to get State subsidies?
E.Zammit
Aug 7th 2008, 22:08
I am afraid that Dr.Muscat has made a great error of judgement here. I believe that he must be aware that, if he is to convince us that he is truly a ' breath of fresh air ' in policy making for the MLP and abiding by his promise to bring abuot the ' Stagun Politiku Gdid ' he has to offer concrete solutions to the problems faced by the dockyard workers.
As an Economist he should know that, his idea of giving the dockyard workers an option to be employed by the IPSL, is to say the least a non-starter !
Will every reduntant Maltese working citizen be offered the opportunity to join the IPSL, when and if, he obtains the mandate by the people to become our Prime Minister ?
Regretfully, his remarks today leaves much to be desired and if he keeps going down this road, he is destined to fail like the others failed before him.
Please make sure that you REALLY bring about the much desired change. Don't let those around you continue to dictate their outdated polices of old hinder your promised vision for the party.
Recently elected officials dissappoints................ I understand !!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 22:05
C.Mizzi-well..about the pulcinelli...lets say the dock workers who BELIEVED the hollow promises mad by Dr. Gonzi 5 months ago(still deciding to ignore that little issue are'nt you?)
As for Mr.Parnis..well...you could ask him couldn't you? if you expect me to answer for him...well....you must think i'm more of a jack in the box than all these experts commenting about taxes and closing the docks....
Just one point-
2003-Restructuring
2008-Redundancies
But since I now have the honour of you having read my blog...would you be so kind as to answer my queries??
if due to a temperory bout of blueeyeditis, you have missed that bit...here they are again....(just for your own benefit...Don't tell the others....)
With regards to our Prime minister's promise as to the future of the Drydocks made not more than 5 months ago...(not exactly the Triassic is it?)
a) did Gonzi LIE to these workers? or
b) was he unaware of what now seems to be an obvious situation?
As for wasted taxes, what would your opinion be regarding the Government having claimed for ages that the Public Sctor had been overstaffed, and suddenly, before the last elections, vacancies popped up everywhere?
No answer....AGAIN! This is fun! )
Chris Borg
Aug 7th 2008, 21:33
So GonziPN promises it will NOT downsize the dockyards. Then it gets elected. Then it starts downsizing. And the people just look on. Welcome to Malta, numbed as it is.
So weird that GonziPN doesn't want to make any investigations about how and why the Dockyards have made recent losses.....if it was the workers' fault they would have done it....
Anyway, GonziPN is known to be antagonistic (to say the least) towards Dockyard workers. I think all of us have heard Gonzisti getting excited over the prospect of the Dockyard (and Shipbuilding) being closed down. Some kind of schadenfreude or maybe some kind of orgasm caused by their hatred towards this section of workers. As a son of an ex-Shipbuilding worker I have a first hand experience of the kind of prejudice and hatred which exists against anything and anyone related to the Shipyards, especially in "polite company" (sic.)
C.Mizzi
Aug 7th 2008, 21:21
Dear Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri........why dont you ask Mr. Michael Parnis about the early retirement scheme that he took in 2003 from Malta Drydocks. Was the 2003 retirement scheme acceptable to the GWU ? It was surely good for Mr. Parnis. Why is it wrong in 2008 ? Why was was good for the goose in 2003 in not good for the gander in 2008 ? Mr. Paul Bugeja, the GWU section secretary of the Drydocks employees last Monday called the maltese people "pulcinelli" ? Who are the "pulcinelli" Mr. Jeremy ?
Francis Attard
Aug 7th 2008, 21:09
There is a mistake in the article. I do not know whether it was made by the editor or was actually said by Dr.Muscat. In 2003 the workers could not opt to stay at the Drydocks. They were declared redundant with the hope that the Drydocks will be more viable.
Francis Attard
Aug 7th 2008, 20:20
Dr.Muscat, most of the workforce in this country are employed with the private sector. Which side are you on???? Do you have any preferences????
Maria Pace
Aug 7th 2008, 20:07
@Angelo Micallef
The more you post comments, the more I convince myself how narrow-minded you can be!
S. Micallef
Aug 7th 2008, 20:03
to all those idiots that commented in favour of the closedown of the dock yards.
be all ashamed of what you said. you do not know nothing. blame the government for all the taxes you paid to subsidies the dock but don't forget they also pay taxes for all of you. my father has been working there for the last 35 yrs and he pays more than Lm100 a month in taxes and he will not get what he deserves.
they are all hard working people and its the PN to blame for the unproductivity of the dock for
e.g. the CEO they brought that costs the dock a wage of Lm22,000/yr, a free villa in iklin, free electricity and water/mobile credit/diesel/etc and the expert they brought from abroad that failed a dock in europe. blame them for loosing such amounts of money.
who does not know shuts up please and for your information from a single ship the dock last month earned more than 1million dollars thanks to the workers bravery and skills.
blame the management and the government, not the simple workers. the PN always hated them and finally he won!
Ethelbert Schembri
Aug 7th 2008, 19:34
Who is playing the victim card ,Mr JMicallef ?? The MLP ??
That will never happen my friend . That is the card the PN will always play !
If you can open your eyes and mind, you will see and realise it .
MR Jeremy J Camilleri you are wrong , the PN is not the party in government because they believe that they are the monarchs on this island and that we are there slaves !!
Go on Dr Muscat we are with you !!
Mario camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 19:29
Shame on the government because he was never able to seriously restructure the shipyard and shame on all you PN apologists for always blaming the workers for whatevers happens there. I bet the new owners of the shipyards will make it profitable in no time because i am sure there are loads of opportunities out there. this industry is huge but our government never had real intentions to wake this industry on its feet.
For those who are fed up subsidising the shipyards i also want to say something. i am fed up subsidising my government for all the so called projects which are never ended in time and which end up costing us all taxpayers millions and millions more. and may i remind you all the our national debt is currently over 3 billion euros!!! who is subsidising who???
j.cutajar
Aug 7th 2008, 19:26
Every time Angelo Micallef write something, he confess that the only good done in this country is only done by GonziPn. This kind of thinking reminds me in the ERA of Communisim. Give applause only to the Soviet leaders. Better to do a course in journalism than in Dr of Law.!
Joseph Piscopo
Aug 7th 2008, 19:20
Various commentators are giving the impression that early retirement schemes are not offered by the private sector in the case of collective redundancies. During 2005 Farsons issued an early retirement scheme to its workers. Recently GO issued another scheme to its workers. So why all this fuss about early retiremet schemes being offered to workers who just five months ago were assured that their company is going to become viable by the end of this year?
stefan spiteri
Aug 7th 2008, 19:01
A Caruana
And you say labour ALWAYS object to every thing that the Government does... Qassata for what?? Dr GOnzi have been making Qassatas all the time one eg. where is that minister of yours who said that everyone had airconditioning nowadays (a luxury) ... everyone is going back to fans again cos the electricity blah blah blah HURT people my friend all just because of you know who...
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 18:05
Isn't it strange to suddenly realise that the MLP and the GWU have been ruling the country for the past 20 years?
I must thank Jmicallef for pointing that out. And there I was thinking that the PN was the party in GovernmenT!
Shame on me...I must have been living in cukooland!!!!!!
As to regarding the truth..Didn' t the head of the non ruling party(according to Jmicallef). Dr.Gonzi hand down the truth, in writing, to all the Dock workers not more than five months ago....
Yes yes! I do keep on bringing that up!
But then again I'm bored., so what the hell!!!.. Shame on me!
A.CAruana
Aug 7th 2008, 17:57
Oh baby! Qasatta wara l ohra,
When will the labour change?
JMicallef
Aug 7th 2008, 17:31
Playing the victim's card, now eh?
Are they trying to fool us after having sucked all those funds for all those years? They always thought of themselves as the ultimate untouchables, a kingdom within a nation where the Nationaliist PMs could not set foot inside their so called territory.
I can't blame the workers for beleiving that they are untouchables, after beying buoyed by the MLP and GWU, and funded endlessly by PN givernments. They never realized that they were being used by the MLP-GWU tandem, as the Italians say " usa e getta".
Now it's time to reckon with reality, market reality that is. The kingdom is no more. It's useless for the MLP and GWU to 'stage' a meeting in front of the cameras, as if they care. They are clutching to straws and they know it. For the ntieth time, they are trying to fool these workers again. It will be very useful, if for once they should tell the workers the TRUTH, and guide and help them accordingly, and not try to use them and fool them till the very end. for their own agendas
Joseph Agius
Aug 7th 2008, 17:22
@c. degabriele. To be honest, no I do not think all Drydock workers are parasites BUT their representatives make them look like parasites....and they do it so good!
C.Degabriele
Aug 7th 2008, 16:56
Be honest........Do you all think Drydocks' workers are parassites?........Do you know that the Shipyards' up to now handled lots of projects, sometimes simultaneously and finished them in time, and end up with satisfied clients? But it has become a National interest to blame low Production ....and everybody seems to beleive it, .......when we live in a country where the government never finishes national projects in time ( mention roads, bridges, Hospital and others ) and find all sort of excuses but never low production.
We accept the fact that Malta is not competitive for the Textile Industry and when companies close we never blame the workers but accept the fact that we are not competitive anymore. Why is it that in the case of the Shipyards, always the workers are blamed?...Are you so sure that what you are made to believe is the truth? Who has finished the projects in the Shipyards in time?
And after all who felt that he should take a committment to send a promise in writing that he would not downsize the Shipyards?
V. Catania
Aug 7th 2008, 16:39
Why all this prejudice against dockyard workers? We should all admit that successive Nationalist governments did very little to restructure and reviatilise the yard. Pumping in subsidies was pure eyewash and not the real solution to the yard's many problems. We recently heard that marketing the yard's overseas was no longer government's business. Fine we spend tens of thousands on bashes like World fairs that serve no purpose other than state paid holidays for those manning the stand and visiting ministers and do not lift a finger to promote the yard abroad.
Another question arises here. Why downsize now? Is government selling the shipyard to a company that has no expansion plans?
Joseph Muscat's propsals make sense and his questions must be answered. Yard workers have families too.
Silvan Cutajar
Aug 7th 2008, 16:36
Joseph has made very good points on the Malta Shipyards. Why should workers have to take up a scheme when all other workers where offered alternatives? Why cant dockyard workers also be given a choice on where to go? Is it because the current administration wants to hurt a mainly labourite group of workers?
The Government must alwayds remember that here we are speaking of people and families. Not politics.
Regarding the complaints on money spent on the docks. Do you realise we would have spent such money on social welfare just the same? Do you realise that most losses didnt come from wages but from bad planning such as the recent bad decisions costing the company a massive loss?
Alex Ellul
Aug 7th 2008, 16:32
@Bernard Mamo: Dear Bernard, If the company you work for closes down, then you are out of a job, then go to ETC, get retrained, then start applying for jobs, meanwhile your family will have to make sacrifices.... You see, you are not special and you do not belong to the aristocracy. I myself has been tru' this a long time ago, when the aristocracy's grand dad was in power, ETC did not even exist and of course no one stood up for me. I just had to suffer.
It is the Dockyard workers that have their wages guaranteed no matter what.
John Saliba
Aug 7th 2008, 16:31
So young and yet so forgetful. Only a few days ago he said that the government decided on a maximum of 700 employees. Now, today, he says that the government is talking to two companies from Singapore and another from Norway. Make up your mind, man. Instead of suggesting that the government should offer the dockyard workers a job with IPSL why doesn't he offer those that served Dom and Karmenu well a job at Mile End. I am sure that they deserve it, after all they were at the Curia, the Times of Malta, the PN headquarters and more than likely at Tal-Barrani. He now wants the GWU to join him in the 'gallarija'. He tells them to protect the workers interests and keep in mind the national interest. Doesn't he understand the basic fact: "The dockyard has to be privatized... and there must be no hindrance." Grow up, man, grow up.
Pauline Barbara
Aug 7th 2008, 16:25
@ J. Portelli - pray do tell when a company doesn't do well and has to A) Downsize, B) Sell up or C) Closedown altogether do you just blame the workers???? Or should those in charge be held accountable for per example: bad marketing, bad administration, not looking for the right investments????
Is the Government completely innocent in the downfall of the Dockyards and is it all the workers' fault ? - just forget politcis for a moment and you should come to the conclusion that the fault doesn't soley belong to the Dockyard workers.
PN have been in Government for over 20 years and IMO its a bad reflection on them that they left things to go to rot - everyone is talking about how much money has been thrown at the Docks, but its not the amount of money that counts but what you do with it.
PN and PN apologists just pass the buck and blame everyone but themselves because God forbid they should ever he held accountable.
Joseph Agius
Aug 7th 2008, 16:20
I just thought, hoped or even dreamt Joseph could make a difference.....unfortunately more of the same....an Alfred Sant clone!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 16:16
One last thing dear Angelo....
If you see Joseph Muscat, he doesn't really resemble Dr Sant, no resemblance whatsoever, youre waty off the mark there.......
Maybe you meant the more you hear about him?
....Just a small mistake...Don't get too flustered at my pointing that out will you?
Charles Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 16:14
The dockyard has cost the taxpayer 950 million Euros plus an other 49 million Euros in severance pay. Is that not enough for people who were never were interested in their work but always played politics with their job. The GWU is mainly to blame for the yard to be in this situation. I still remember strikes being call when the yard was full of work and ships leave the yard half completed. Also low productivity and outdated work practices made the yard uncompetitive with foreign yards. It is in the national interest that this problem is solved once and for all for it had dragged too long and has bled the country of too much money which could have been put into better use.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 16:14
dear Peter Calleja...don' t flatter teh little man, he doesn't have an ounce of Daphne's wit. Just the same obsession with calling a straw blue..amd a haystack for that matter...return of the Blue Zombies anyone?
As is customary for me, and as I still have NO answer from all of you experts:
With regards to our Prime minister's promise as to the future of the Drydocks made not more than 5 months ago...(not exactly the Triassic is it?)
a) did Gonzi LIE to these workers? or
b) was he unaware of what now seems to be an obvious situation?
And another unanswered one...for all of you who take the distribution of our taxes so seriously...
where any of you folks grumbling before the last election, seeing that the PN Government had been claiming for ages that the Public Sctor had been overstaffed, and suddenly, lo and behold, before the last elections, vacancies started to pop up everywhere?
keep them coming in folks.... you really entertain me.....or then again...You could just ignore the questions....
victor caruana
Aug 7th 2008, 16:14
I do not care what Joseph Muscat is saying about the shipyards workers.
Howeve it would be interesting if malcolm seychell, leonard bonello, angelo micallef, e caruana, m spiteri, karl abela and j. portelli tell us what they, or the breadwinner in their family, do for a living.
Only then can one gauge their preoccupation with blood suckers.
Karl Abela
Aug 7th 2008, 16:09
@ C. Camillieri
GonziPN never made such an electoral promise about not downsizing the Dockyard. Thats a lie that Tony Zarb started. The EU's stand about the dockyard is clear. No subsidization. Its either profitable or bust.
Jean Paul Fiott
Aug 7th 2008, 16:07
Dr Muscat,
Thank you for coming up with such a brilliant proposal.
I am sure that most Maltese workers are more than happy to work harder to pay even more taxes so that a few dock workers can remain idle somewhere. Let's face it, why should they have to worry about working hard enough to earn their paycheck. Productivity ? Meeting deadlines ? Why should they even be bothered to learn what these terms are ?
In all other issues that have arisen since his appointment Dr Muscat has said nothing more than a few ambiguous words. Considering that this is his first real proposal for alternative action it is clear that the MLP have a very bright future indeed.
Mark Bugeja
Aug 7th 2008, 16:06
Dear M Spiteri,
Imagine you are in the boots of the workers. Why all this hatred amongst our brothers the shipyard workers.? Well done Dr Muscat!!!
Kevin Spiteri
Aug 7th 2008, 15:55
Nice try Angelo Micallef. What is this, a new chapter of character assassination?
J Portelli
Aug 7th 2008, 15:54
So lets get this straight. The shipyards have cost the tax payer hundreds, upon hundreds of millions, for being unproductive, ineffecient and uncompetitive. Now we have to pay them 45 million euros in severance. I say give them 1 month salary, and let them find a job like everyone else. They have cost the country enough. ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!!
M.Spiteri
Aug 7th 2008, 15:52
Furthermore - Another investigation into the drydocks' losses? AGAIN? Please no! or it will be another five years before something is done! And speaking about Hobson's Choice, what choice did Joseph Muscat give the GWU, "safeguard workers' interests while also being mindful of the national interest" - hello - if you haven't realised national interest demands getting rid of the whole thing.
Peter Calleja
Aug 7th 2008, 15:50
@ Angelo Micallef
The more I read your posts the more I am reminded of a person named Daphne.
Pauline Barbara
Aug 7th 2008, 15:50
@ Leonard Bonello - The Dockyard is government owned and thats why when privatisation transpires employees are offered retirement schemes or alternative jobs. Its completely different in the private sector as when a company goes belly up or downsizes they have no obligation to offer employees redundancy packages or retirement schemes.
This isn't just happening with the Dockyard workers, but has also been the case when Freeport and Maltapost were privatised. So I'm afraid you can't compare the two scenarios, ever heard of the old adage 'Get a job with the government, because you have a job for life /better conditions' - well this situation still holds true.
Finally I think that PN did the country a disservice by not taking the bull by its horns and really having a go at making the Dockyard work at a profit, at a time when we're in the EU and at the centre between Europe and Africa one would think there were ways and means to make our Dockyards more successful as other countries have done.
Karl Abela
Aug 7th 2008, 15:47
What is Joseph Muscat trying to say here? Is he trying to shift reponsibility from the workers onto someone else? He agrees with the privatisation of the dockyard? He calls for better schemes for useless 'workers' who drained us from hundred of millions of euros?
Its obvious that his strategy in getting much needed votes is very confused.
M.Spiteri
Aug 7th 2008, 15:45
Honestly and in all fairness - dockyard workers should be satisfied with having a choice at all. For a company that has been on the receiving end of millions of maltese pounds and who has rarely lived up to expectations (maybe due to market circumstances) in recent years, it can consider itself to be very lucky. Private companies do not offer such schemes - they lump you with bankruptcy. Rather than Hobson's choice Mr. Muscat, I think it's more of a case that 'beggars can't be choosers'. Malta has already paid its debt (financially and physically) to the dockyard. I never received compensation for when the dear old dockyard workers in the good old 1980s (when the workers were considered an elite by Labour), sporting helmets and metal bars came abanging outside my door - and no - it wasn't Christmas - they weren't singing Christmas Carols!
e.CARUANA
Aug 7th 2008, 15:43
why all this fuss for drydock works. when private companies are downsized or closed no labour leader will ask for the workers to be garaunteed work. they are so special not even when they had no work they never worked a 4 day week as the private sector with the blessing of the union will do. so why so special about these workers
Byron Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 15:41
Bernand Mamo the thing is, that maybe you did not receive a personal letter 4/5 months ago saying that your job is secure and there would not be any downsizing...
Although the discussion should be on how the government know beforehand that the new company taking over dockyard, would not want that ammount of workers... It is really strange...
Angelo Micallef
Aug 7th 2008, 15:38
The more I see of Joseph Muscat...the more I am reminded of Alfred Sant!!!
Martin Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 15:35
Yesterday Minister Tonio Fenech said the only responsabilty that Govt has towards the GWU is to inform her only. Are other unions leaving such a statement without any comment, or as these unions always opt the rule of two ways and two measures depending on the Govt of the day.
Bernard Mamo
Aug 7th 2008, 15:34
why are dockyard workers being given all this good treatment? What will happen to me if the comapny i work for closes down?
Leonard Bonello
Aug 7th 2008, 15:30
Why is there so much positive discrimination in favour of the dockyard workers?
Was such an offer made to the victimos of all factory closures?! NO!
C. Camilleri
Aug 7th 2008, 15:26
@Seychell
For your information its an electoral promise that there should be no downsizing! And you know who promised it? Your GonziPN promised that! Inform yourself before you speak up.
Good one Joseph! You are Malta's future!
Malcolm Seychell
Aug 7th 2008, 15:21
Yes of course close the shipyards and employ them with the government.
The new MLP vision for 2008!!!