Next stop Castille, Zarb warns

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 17th 2008, 16:39

Vic,

I spent 16 years working at Maltapost, and when that got privatised, I had every right to revert back to public services, without losing a cent from my pay cheque. Maltacxom workers were also guaranteed a job, albeit on a 3 year guarantee.
That is one of the reasons why II believe Dock workers are being discriminated against.

victor vella

Aug 17th 2008, 02:56

Hi Jeremy, I believe that you are the fruit of the change brought by Alfred Sant, old labourites would not talk or write as you do,I know I have members of the family who still think that once Labour is in goverment then all nationalists in a position should be fired or dismissed ce la vie. Regarding the drydocks I am sure that if the will is there then a solution would be found, but haveing said that how can one keep pumping money down the drain and it is money we don't have so for the love of god let us face facts, there are too many traditions carried forward from the admiralty at the docks.Jeremy I do not know where you work and it is not my buisness but if your boss decided to close the buisness what would happen to you, now if the goverment guarantees the job of workers at the docks then I would expect to keep recieving my wages of the company I work for goes bust.

matthew brincat

Aug 16th 2008, 19:04

nice little outing during your summer holidays, dear Zarb.

George Curmi

Aug 16th 2008, 14:20

To the seismic MLP leader Dr. Joseph Muscat (he promised an earthquake didn't he?) regarding his presence and approving applause to Mr. Zarb' s threats of "Dr. Gonzi ....Castille is yours but the roads are ours", and ".... or else we will come to Castille ourselves with the workers."

Is this the earthquake that you promised the Maltese people? Your earthquake, Dr. Muscat, is beginning to sound, and smell, more like the rectal expulsion of flatulent gases from an over-burdened digestive system.

It seems to me that the "new MLP" is merely a re-run of the same old MLP farce - the same old stuff. The more things "change", the more they stay the same. The actors change, but it's the same old script - threatening and doing violence as a means to achieve their goals. Until the MLP renounces its violent past, apologises to the nation for the beatings, arsons, vandalism, and other crimes that they committed; and until they demonstrate by deed, not by words alone, that they intend to behave as in a civilised manner, they are undeserving of taking the reins of government in Malta.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 16th 2008, 14:19

Vic...
The truth is that ever since Alfred Sant was nominated as leader, Labour more than done its fair share to eradicate violent elements within. This was even confirmed by various Pn leaders.
There were more promotions than those mentioned, and if you read independent papers like malta today, you will realise that some of those mentioned are actually benefiting from Government contracts. I have even interviewed a person from Zejtun, whose son was almost blinded, and both of them were not allowed to vote in 1987. One of his most painful admitions is that yes, the police he reported to and refused to take steps were still in the force not too long ago.
I can talk forever with someone like you, who I believe has his heart in the right place but is forever scarred against the Labour Party through personal events. Sadly I can state that I know Labour Party supporters who are in an identical situation vis a vie the Nationalist Party.
However, this is not the issue here. The issue is whether the decisions being taken with regards to the Dockyars are in the best interest.

Adrian Pace

Aug 16th 2008, 11:43

The retirement scheme is yet another Golden Handshake as had been given out to the Kalaxlokk workers over a decade ago.

At whose expense? the Taxpayer of course which is why the Government made such an emphasis to improve its taxation instruments over the last five years to continue forking out taxpayers money to an army of workers who have done nothing but fleece this nation dry.

Is this part of the accountability promised prior to last election? Are we to continue to be held at ransom by the dock workers and Tony Zarb? Do redundancies in the private sector get retirement schemes? Does anyone have any idea what this is going to cost the Nation?

And at whose expense? The taxpayer of course.... Is this why the self-employed was persecuted so discriminatingly over these last years... to finance paying off the drydocks?

So long for accountability!!!!

Adrian Bonanno

Aug 16th 2008, 11:09

I don’t know why some are astonished by the GWU reaction. Please remember that last February THE GOVERNMENT made a statement whereby he stated that there will be no downsizing in Malta Shipyards. A fact that is omitted is that the Prime Minister in his speech about the privatization stated that the schemes were going to be voluntary and for every one.

The fact is that there are employees of Malta Shipyards that are excluded from the schemes because they have a definite contract and when their contract expires they will end up without a job.

Please remember that on 7th December the government made an agreement with UHM where 1300 civil servants with a definite contract where given an indefinite contract. The agreement applied to government workers and civil servants who were on definite contract, even in cases where the four obligatory years have not been covered. The fact is that both these civil servants and shipyards employees are employed by the same government of Malta.

So please can some one gives me a valid reason why these employees where given the status of indefine contract while Malta Shipyards workers were excluded? Can government discriminate between his employees?

VICTOR VELLA

Aug 16th 2008, 11:04

Jeremy, I feel good that we are at least on first name basis, Having done your research then you know quite well what we lived through. Correct me if I am wrong but there were 2 people I can remember having been promoted Pace and Psaila, was it maybe thier testimony that led to the ex police commissioner to be charged and convicted of the murder of Nardu Debono?What I cannot understand is that a man who is said to have dumped the body is still at large also a man who was involved in the Rabat shooting,but I can confirm that they live thier life in hell , I know both of them and they are in constant fear of retribution I assure you of that.Just consider this, in the 70's and early 80's we wouldnt be talking openly about these things and signing our blogs with our real names.My main concern is this, we cannot afford another PN goverment as it would not be healthy fo r the country but is violent labour the alternative? Thevents and words like nisfrundawk do not auger well for the future I'm sorry.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 15th 2008, 19:55

Vic, just for your info, I was involved in a programme some years back, and interviewed victims of the 80's violence.
I actually did most of my research at the PN headquarters with the help of Dionne Galea (I think that s his surname anyway).
What happened then was despicable, however, what happened after, when some perpetrators were even promoted is just as despicable.
The sad thing is that in Malta, a Catholic island., both sets of supporters can claim to being discriminated, hit etc...
If you read earlier blogs, you will realise that even in my regard, some people have tried to get personal.Thats the way the Maltese are made..Mhemmx x taghmel!

It is sad that in such an issue, it is obvious that it is the Nazzjonalisti against everyone else.
As to my blogs, I think I have made my points clear with a set of unanswered questions. Lets keep the discussion focused.

victor vella

Aug 15th 2008, 19:17

Jeremy,yes I agree wit you 100 5 but I was answering regarding the threat that workers would go to the streets, and got answers that Patrick Holland and manuel dimech were heroes, and other stuff regarding labour.I was just reminding people what we went through when the drydocks workers with million of lira in the red used to leave thier work place and terrorise the nation.You want my idea regarding the shipyard. OK if the workers want to keep thier job in a loss making enterprise the goverment should sell it to them at a reduced price and then they run it , but they canot ask for 1 euro cent in loans or help from the people of Malta.if atthe end of the day they cannot run the company they should close it down and leave.

Joseph Galea

Aug 15th 2008, 18:24

For all those we tax payers who always supported the MDD from thier montly wages can now rest assured that by the end of 2008 the Malta Shipyards will be history.

james debono

Aug 15th 2008, 15:49

It seems that many have not ever witnessed a protest in the European Union. By EU standards the dockyard workers' protest would be considered a very timid affair. It seems that some people consider protests as an inconvenience rather than a living proof of democracy. I invite these people to migrate to some shiekdom in the arabian peninsula or to china...

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 15th 2008, 15:22

Vic..What happened to these Police officers? I hope they were not promoted under a Nationalist Government....

But seriously..wasn't the discussion supposed to be the shipyards?

victor vella

Aug 15th 2008, 15:12

To all you labour supporters, can one of you deny the attack on the times of Malta, The attack on Dr Fenech Adami's house, the attack on the curia, the law courts, Nardu Debono, why was tear gas fired at us at the independence arena in Floriana in september 84 we were watching a play and there was more police then people at the time. The day after I went to hospital with inflamed eyes and when the duty doctor asked me if I exposed my eyes to acid and I told him it was tear gas he left me there without treatment,It was only thanks to Dr Censu Tabone who treated me free of charge. In 1977 we were walking peacefull in Republic street and we were attacked by labour supporters and police. These are just a few of the atrocities that we lived through Ethelbert Schembri and others who think like you do, yes we remind the people of what happened, unlike Stalin and Mintoff our history books don't have pages missing, who can believe your party slogan of a new season when people like you still litter our island.Labour is shame and I pity the DNA perfect

GAFFARENA JOSEPH

Aug 15th 2008, 15:02

ISSA DAQSEKK. This bullying is out of date now,Sure you have to go to castille, but to thank
the maltese people for all these years they pumped all this money ,without any trace of progress.When there is going to be a real change in the GWU.We are not living in the 80,s now. The taxpayers gave more than enough to the drydocks, after all we all knew that tha ship building was a white elephant, but mintoff wanted to go ahead with his project.
We are still tasting his mistakes,after all it was the union that organised all those political strikes in the past, for the simple reason to let the labour party win the coming ellection.
Gone are the days for sammy and company to dictate our future, and as Mr, zarb once said,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

luisa abela

Aug 15th 2008, 14:57

I`m going to write this cause i saw it and heard it myself.... when the film The Gladiators was to be shot in Malta, and the Maltese were called for an audition at the Catholic Institute, i heard with my ears that too many workers from MDD were extras,at first i thought that they took some form of leave,but when the shooting started and the coach used to pick is up, one of the pick up points was the door of MDD! They used to go to work,punch and go out again to wait for the coach!! This was 9 yrs ago,i hope those people aren`t there anymore,but if they are,do these so called WORKERS need our compassion! Beware whom you`re defending Mr Zarb!

George Curmi

Aug 15th 2008, 14:38

Just one question. How long can Maltese taxpayers keep funding unprofitable ventures (make that financial black holes) like the Malta Shipyards before the entire nation is driven into bankruptcy?

In the real world, commercial enterprises that chronically keep losing money go out of business. This is not to say that we should not be compassionate with those who are affected. After all, they are our neighbours and friends, even family members. But enough is enough. Mr Zarb wants to have it both ways. He wants to keep open an enterprise that is financially bleeding Malta, yet he complains about taxes - the very same taxes that are subsidising this drain on Malta's economy.

To get his way, Mr. Zarb then dares to threaten violence against the very nation and people that have been signing the pay cheques of his members. That is not the way to win the support from those who evaluate this situation without any political prejudice.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 15th 2008, 14:12

Yes Ray, I do agree that somewere, something is seriously amiss. However, before a full enquiry be made, and the reason for this loss is identified, I do not believe that we can start healing our wounds.

Let us say, that you were a prospective buyer, and you read all these blogs about no future and the like, would you get involved?

Now, lets say, that an independent enquiry pointed out that what Sammy was saying, in that the losses incurred were due to bad management, and even possible fraud, wouldn't that change the whole scenario,making privatisation even easier and more profitable?

It is just so easy to make a blank, unproven statement as to the fact that all the losses are due to inefficiency from the worker's part.
If, however, this IS proven, in a truly, independent enquiy however, then I shall have to eat humble pie, say I was wrong and move on.

Schembri Ray

Aug 15th 2008, 13:40

@ Jeremy J Camilleri
Yes i agree that an enquiry about how funds are spent is conducted by someone who is responsible enough to make such reports clear. Don't mix problems with each other. Do you agree that we have pushed alot of funds to make MDD efficient? Did you notice that it's a failure? Why keep fuelling a sinking ship?

Franco Farrugia

Aug 15th 2008, 13:33

@ Charles Buttigieg - 'Perhaps Malta needs a few more rough diamonds like Sammy'.
And I think it is only shameful for those who claim to love democracy to utter such a statement. In turn, have you forgotten the 000s of lost man hours by dockyard workers doing the rounds of Malta in years gone by?????????????????????????????
Which other single entity had workers doing the same thing, can I ask you???????????????
Contrary to your good self, I have always written as I felt that I should write, never allowing myself to be politically blinded: whenever I wrote to criticise the Nationalists, I did it with as much gusto as I did in criticising the Labour Party. (Most recently, the Co-Cathedral saga!).

When I write one way, ppl scream that I belong to 'the other side', and the contrary!
I suggest that you take a leaf out of my book and try do the same.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 15th 2008, 12:50

and by the way..Wistin Schembri..what happened to those officers responsible for making you inhale tear gas?

Don't tell me that they're still serving on the force?

Hope that none of thhose accused of police brutality are getting paid by Government contracts awarded by the PN before the last election!!!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 15th 2008, 12:48

If youre so angry at the way your taxes have been spent, SUr Schembri Ray, do you agree with the union in that an independent enquiry should be held as to determine how thes Liri were siphoned off?

Schembri Ray

Aug 15th 2008, 12:36

For how many years I have to pay taxes for the MDD to keep going. When Tony Zarb is going to stop cheating on us saying that it's in the workers interest. Can Tony mention one enterprise that was privatelized and went bankrupt? Doesn't he noticed that all of them have succeded better! Please stop damaging the workers conditions now. Enough is enough.

Rachel Galea

Aug 15th 2008, 12:21

Today the only way to guarantee your job is to work hard to make sure that the company, does not go bankcrupt ....... we all know the consequence of that and no pointing of fingers is going to change this!!!

In whatever we do in life we always reap what we sow. If today we are reaping a bankcrupt workplace then in the past employees, from cleaners to CEOs, did not give a fruitful input.

The MDD situation in today reflects this very clearly. Government, time and again sowed cash, millions of it, but the workforce (all of it) did not use it properly.

I claim ignorance about the Faimount deal being blamed for the MDDs state but presume that had all the funds input over the years been used wisely MDD would have absorbed this loss, surely it is not so big as to wipe a healthy company off the industiral map.

MDD workers your are being offered the last few seeds, take them, sow them, cultivate them properly so your reaping will be fruitful. If the GWU truly has the workers interest at heart then it should be advising just this. Confrontation will only leave you empty handed.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 15th 2008, 11:56

Wistin Schembri haha! they always bring up the tear gas...What that has got to do with THIs argument beats me...but I guess it is convenient to run away from one argument and do our best to deviate when we have no answers.
However, whilsty you're at it, and since we have so many amateur historians around, lets say that in any strike, people who do not agree with the strike should have every right to work...Without having their 15 year old daughter blown to bits.....but then again, Karen Grch was never that important for you fols....l-aghar li mar iz ziju!

As for A Brincat..Don;t know if I should answer in English or Maltese...well, since it is an english newspaper, sorry A Brincat.....

Once again, YOU'RE the expert, you're the one who knows the dark secrets of the human race...so enlighten us.....please....we're begging you.......as to the midhla sew t'hemm...Yes..I am actually...and proud to say so...better than to be midhla in some shady organisation with backstabbing in mind....Sliem lilek ukoll.....(I hope that the last three words wer'nt the only ones you got)

Wistin Schembri

Aug 15th 2008, 11:34

@ Ethelbert Schembri

Having read your last entry, I understood how some people can deny the Holocaust and Stalin's purges!

I have swallowed the tear gas in Floriana, Tal-Barrani and Rabat (all times fired bt the Police), I've seen the police joining the criminals in beating us. If you say that it's not true, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Shame on you.

Gerard Mangion

Aug 15th 2008, 10:36

@ ethelbert schembri

I didint knew that you are, the Rambo hero lol,

ok hero You got the job !!!

A.Gauci Cunningham

Aug 15th 2008, 10:19

Charles J Buttigieg and Jeremy J camilleri-----What I mentioned is not really a chip on my shoulder but the truth, which does not ring bells in your ears it seems, and yes I will open all the 'feriti" people I know might have, because as you go to the streets threatening with violence and throw perspective to the wind and as you have the right to call us bloggers here "hodor" and threaten to topple a democratically elected govt. I have every right to say the little I know about how that man in the picture treated people when he had the Power!!

Fairfont Ford??----------yes why not, open an inquiry and if it results that things where done badly than those responsible should also be criticised, whether its a Pn Minister or not...........and yes the management of the MDD has failed the company too so when I say workers I dont mean only those who support Tony like jeremy.....

Charles-----Thanks for the advice......duly noted!!

Ethelbert Schembri

Aug 15th 2008, 09:30

GO ON Tony , Sammy , Paul , the GWU and the Malta Shipyards workers the whole majority on this island is after you !! These blogs are just a remote sample of the population on this island.

Now you can count me in on your attacks !!!!!

Ethelbert Schembri

Aug 15th 2008, 09:29

@ Jeremy J Camilleri

I don’t know you personally but I support your arguments 100% .

To the others if you quote the 70s and 80s why don’t you remember that at that time the Mintoff government was under attack but some cheap terrorist . They stopped terrorising us all when they got what they wanted >>> the government ( the POWER )
As you say all , if you break the law you must pay for your deeds . My dear A.C.G you think that just for reading a lousy news paper one will pass everything you said . With all respect check the whole story for good !! There were lots and lots of this brainwashing story and if you can count them it will surpass the number of copies sold of that news paper !!!!

Dear Jeremy J Camilleri these so called bloggers when they lose an argument will always resort to the old tales, brainwashing and personal attacks . So we can just let them be and make a good laugh !!

charles marsh

Aug 15th 2008, 08:59

Is it a sin that a Union representing 1700 workors who do not know their future to ask the government to discuss the issue before deciding the future of the workors? It's the government who is sinning by deciding alone. And by the way Not only the MLP is behind the Union but even the AD. And today we also heard that the MUT is giving it's support to the GWU. Let me remind you that GWU is not against privatization but against the arrogant way the govt is dealing with the issue.

J.Galea

Aug 15th 2008, 07:50

We who work in the private sector never had any guarantee towards our job or any subsidies.
I understand with all respect ,that the yard workers are no special.

p.grima

Aug 15th 2008, 02:23

It looks like the GWU now intends to do the same to Malta Shipyards as it did to Sea Malta... and then blame it all on the PN Government, as usual. Shipyards workers beware! History repeats itself. Don't let the GWU use you.

godwin pullicino

Aug 15th 2008, 00:23

It is time that Malta removes the false enterprise and noose round it's neck that is the Malta Dockyard. Over 80% of shipyards in the world have closed and no sensible government or workforce would subsidise it the way the Maltese Government has done over the past 50 years. That money can be used to create jobs relevant to the modern world.

It is sad that people like Tony Zarb, Sammy Meilaq etc have one answer: violence, threats, militancy. Is this how these people resolve issues or move forward? Come to the UK Mr Zarb - it was a Labour Government just a few years ago which did not subsidise Rover, GM, BAE, and other big British industries. British Airways, like many airlines around the world are shedding thousands of jobs because of lower demand, global economic slowdown and the artificially high price of oil. How would Mr Zarb react if he worked for BA? What Mr Zarb should do is take stock, be sensible, and behave in a civilised manner and learn how other countries, Governments and companies dealt with job losses.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 15th 2008, 00:10

@Albert Gauci Cunningham..Quote....and while I'm at it and once you decided to step on my toes Jeremy J Camilleri let me tell you what you, Sammy Meilaq and Tony Zarb did to one of my family members in the eighties----------- unquote. You need to use less punctuations and more rationality when you write. Man you have so many chips on your shoulders that are blurring your vision to look at things in their proper perspective that makes me feel sorry for you. Bury the hatchet and you will live a happier, healthier and a longer life. Life is so good without bitterness.

Victor Buhagiar

Aug 14th 2008, 23:26

Union leaders will still have their fat pay in January 2009. Will the drydocks workers have any pay packets? I wonder. But then who cares so long as we put spokes in the Government wheels. In the end, Malta will suffer. Again, who cares!!!!!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 22:41

Not that it worked...imma nsomma....

As for my earlier attempts to ask some LOGICAL questions and get a LOGICAL disucssion going...well...I thought they were really simple straightforward questions...imma milli jidher...qas tal-airconditioner ma jafu jwegbuhom.

As for A.Brincat..well..he's an expert at harping on the same strings.... and now that we've used some native lingo...and even got cows involved...kif jghidu..Il-baqra milli jkollha ttik...

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 22:38

To be honest..no..I don't remember..But if you want to enlighten me, and the Maltese public who may have forget, you're more than welcome..I'm only 33, so I guess that it might have not heard of it....

Anki l-eta tkixxiftu issa..Kif qed issalbuni..haha

As for mr GaucHi Cunningham..I knew you'd bite..so here goes..I can afford spelling mistakes..I'm lower class you see. I can only perform menial labour jahasra! : O)

As for your family member...I just knew something personal was involved...and here we were thinking that you were bringing up logical arguments...Lets talk about the situation today...you'll soon be talking about Interdett and Pn trying to make an official strike illegal next...(yes, history doesn't stop in 1980 you see).

But, and this is in all true seriousness...if your Uncle did suffer discrimination, it is indeed a sad part of our history. Discrimination is a way of life here..I should know..My father suffered discrimination under a PN government, and I was refused overtime within a government owned company. My case occured in 2007.
The scope of these blogs is not to open up on personal experiences, even though most of you have really tried to imply alleged knowledge to scare me off

A. Brincat

Aug 14th 2008, 22:33

@ Jeremy J Camilleri

L-istorja la tinbidel u lanqas tmut. Staqsi wahda fejn qed tahdem. Hemmhekk zgur jghidulek jekk huma tassew onesti (sic)!!! peress li inti midhla sewwa t'hemm!

Nikkwota "Mela...for the benefit of J Sultana...I do not have a paid position in the union, but go there happily on a voluntary basis...been doing that for ages Dear J Sultana.....even availing myself to vacation leave...I thought you would have known that.....".

IsSliem habib!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 22:24

To be honest..no..I don't remember..But if you want to enlighten me, and the Maltese public who may have forget, you're more than welcome..I'm only 33, so I guess that it might have not heard of it....

Anki l-eta tkixxiftu issa..Kif qed issalbuni..haha

A. Brincat

Aug 14th 2008, 22:09

@ Jeremy J Camilleri

Jeremy, I suggest that you have to think more before putting pen to paper, habib!

Tinsa malajr habib. Insejt meta l-Ministru John Dalli kien siefer minhabba Sammy Meilaq? Inhalli lilek biex tiftakar x'kien gara? Memorja qasira? Insomma, il-poplu Malti in generali, jafha l-istorja sewwa!

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Aug 14th 2008, 22:06

......and while I'm at it and once you decided to step on my toes Jeremy J Camilleri let me tell you what you, Sammy Meilaq and Tony Zarb did to one of my family members in the eighties-----------
Joseph Abdilla------threatened and marginalised from the rest, made his life at work impossible and to make it worse was not paid Lm3,000 worth of OVERTIME which he got thanks to our Courts of Justice and the help of the UHM and the PN.............and why?? Because he read In-Nazzjon Taghna!!!!

...thats what Sammy gave workers, thats what that screaming, violent "trade Unionist" meant for my family, thats what my uncle got from the GWU................and now you come screaming blue murder as if the Union doesn't have most of the blame for all the pastazati that took place at this Mintoffian white elephant over the years

....its not about class Jeremy its about expectations...........and I expect the state to stop milking a dead cow.........period..........

A Brincat

Aug 14th 2008, 21:58

@ Jeremy J Camilleri,

I would suggest to continue to clap your hands and harp on the same string, and I can guarantee you that you will remain happy and carry big smiles all the way.

As always - SOUR GRAPES.
Sleep well and good night too.
P.S. Happy Assumption Feast.

A. Brincat

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Aug 14th 2008, 21:54

@Jeremy J Camilleri----your sarcasm is overwhelmingly funny-----but Gauci is written without an "h" so while I'm at it I'll pass you the Union's contact number.....

....seems like jeremy , the guy who makes a pig's feast in calling everyone blinfolded and PN minions, has spent a whole day examining every word and letter on these Blogs "tal-hodor" and reacting to every opinion..........

I repeat what I've said in my previous blog that if I or the thousands who work with Private sector were faced with the same prospect as the Drydocks workers we would not have any of these mass rallies, savage threats to stop the country and the last three leaders of the Opposition party supporting us.........we've been working tooth and nail to get what is ours by right, not some scheme worth thousands mind you, not some guarantee of perpetual employment with some Public entity, not some right not be fired after being caught sleeping.....but our basic rights............we are moving and slowly so and we are very impatient nonetheless we did not threaten the govt. so as to satisfy our bitter apetite of seeing our Opponents crumble ( to no use) ........we do things with less drama Jeremy!!

M Vassallo

Aug 14th 2008, 21:53

@Albert Gauci Cunningham

I am afraid that you are missing the whole issue.
The issue is about shipyards and not about the company you work for.
No body is asking for any subsidies and perhaps you can guide whoever read your comment how you came up with such a conclusion.
The issue about the workers caught sleeping was dealt between union and management. Actions were taken.
You liked to mention such a minor issue and you do not seem interested in the Fairmount Projects that left the yard with millions of Maltese Liri in losses. All of us as tax payers had to make good for it. This is not to mention most of the major projects that this government was responsible for that were delayed and costed much more than one can justify. In these contracts private companies were responsible for the work and government as the client representing us!! This is a form of subsidies as well that some private companies benefit from.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 20:57

Albert Gauchi Cunningham..Whilst I am sure that you work in an office...I hope your duties do not include typing..because if they do, well, I suggest you join a union. Any union....

As for union not defending you...shame on them! You were a member and they did not try to defend you! How could day? tsk tsk....

Of course, I would never believe that a person like you, so conscientous could turn out to be a freerider, expecting an organisation you do not form a part of to defend you!

As for who to believe regarding THIS matter, I am sure that you are updated on the facts of the dockyard issue. If not, and you really are so bothered at the amount of taxes paid and money lost, I suggest you back the union with regards its call for an independent enquiry.

Then you complain about the schemes...and yet, it is the GOVERNMENT who is threatening these workers into accepting these shemes, and not the Union...How confusing hux...I can't get it..but then again I'm probably too lower class to get it.......

j micallef

Aug 14th 2008, 20:36

I uphold with all my might the GWU's right and obligation to stand up for its member workers, and expect nothing less - even though as a taxpayer I cannot put up any longer to fork out my hard-earned money in taxes to subsidize companies that repeatedly make a loss.
But the GWU has made a devastating mistake in mentioning the possibility to turn to brute force and ugly scenes of mob rule. All the GWU has managed to do is to bring back to us wo are old enough to remember once again the dreaded fear that Dockyard workers instilled upon us when they went out in droves on their trucks, dressed in soiled boilersuits, carrying chains and iron rods, shouting abuse and bullying everyone they came across. What a bad strategy by the GWU! How can today's GWU leaders commit this grave mistake which has only helped to turn most of the population against the Union and the Dockyard workers, eben before the real struggle started? This is no way to help the poor dockers who are faced with such a worrying situation that may ruin their lives if they do not take the right decisions.

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Aug 14th 2008, 20:32

................and politically---------yes this is the ultimate battle for the GWU and only the naive would think that this is not so............Tony Zarb is worse than Dr.Sant as he has been there since God knows when...the GWU/MLP lost the referendum, "his" party lost another 2 elections and the GWU lost some of its best people......so its now or never, its this "war" or nothing.........and what better than to use the GWU's and the MLP's heartland and jewel on the crown??......................but the majority looks on silently blogging or watching the news or reading The Times and saying to themselves"....haven't we been here already........??" "haven't we seen enough threats from Tony and his Labour friends...?" "where have their threats led to.......?" "why should we give more money to these people.........??" Why should we believe Tony and his friends now, when they have been proved wrong over and over again........?" "what has changed in the Left...?" "..where was Tony when my employer tried fooling me into a 'trap"...? Nowhere!! We had to fight it ALONE.......?"

.........so do let us be Tony...............cause when we faced trouble we fought our own battle....................cause we are "hodor" 'puliti" "nazzjonalisti" "zewgt ucuh" .......

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Aug 14th 2008, 20:18

I work with a Private company ( ...and yes for some people's info. in an airconditioned room!! my, my, fl-aircondition madoff!! X'lussu zejjed!!)
If I am cuaght sleeping at work will the GWU support me? NO
If my company is on the brink of bankrupcy will the Govt. give me thousands in schemes? NO
If my comapony has bloodsucked over 300 million Maltese Liri will I go in the streets and threaten the govt. to give me more subsidies?? NO
If I loose my job will i have the right to threaten the PN with "nissfrundawkhom"? NO
If I loose the only way to salvage my company would be Privatisation will I put as many spokes in the wheels as possible to make life as difficult as possible to my political opponents?? NO
Can someone tell me how these people are better than me?? What gives these people the right to threaten with violence?? What gives these people the right to confront with "nisfrundawkom, nkaxkrukom, nikkiknsukom" and I have to thank my lucky stars my employer doesn't fire me if business goes down??.........

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 14th 2008, 19:52

@ Victor Vella. Forgot the 200 word restriction? I only mentioned a few for examples but I did say and others. Paul Boffa,Neriku Mizzi, Gerald Strickland are certainly not excluded. As to Fusellu..., well unfortunately some mothers do have ‘em. Do you remember reading about a political top brass having conspicuous meeting under a bridge at night with known criminals? With regards to your reference to my DNA I will not dignify it with the courtesy of a reply. That kind of language disgusts me no matter where it’s coming from.

JOHN SCERRI

Aug 14th 2008, 19:49

Remove the mike - the photo would have been grand as a poster during the communist revolution in Russia or China

dennis agius

Aug 14th 2008, 19:34

Next stop is Castille! no wonder why, bus and taxi drivers did it while nothing serious happened. Drydocks workers in the streets......... why.............to Curia? the Times Building? the PN clubs at Valletta or Floriana? Maybe a residence at Marsascala? We who have more than 40 years, can remember well. Is it time for you all to make us remember all those past events once again? G.W.U. should back up and stay cool to study the situation like they did in 1996 to 1998!

j borg

Aug 14th 2008, 19:31

Why is it that any Government-GWU confrontation takes place in August? Is it soemthing which has to do with diustrupting the summer holidays? Or is it the heat which makes the leaders of the Union so militant, arrogant and aggressive? They tend to miss out the point that we are livng in 2008, The GWU lost most of its strength at the yards and the ports and they know very well that they are just trying to fight a lost battle. The people are fed up with their attitude and they are even more irritated by the fact that they have been pouring millions of Euros and old Liras to get their folk improve on their work practices in order for them to hold on to their jobs. There is no other entity in Malta where so many millions were poured in. The net result is there for all to see. EU or no EU the workers whether they are teh those at teh bottom ranks or those at the top mnanagement posts have not delivered what was agreed to with the Government a few years back. Under normal circumstances, such an entity would have already declared backrupcy years ago.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 14th 2008, 19:22

@ Charles Camilleri. Looks like am having some problems to express myself clearly so I’ll attempt another shot. I do not approve with Sammy Meilaq’s militant ways however I firmly and resolutely stand four-square behind his and his colleagues cause. For all we care, maybe when the Labour Government dismissed him from the Chair, unlike Jason Micallef, he realised that he did not have the required credentials to occupy that office. Nature is kind and doesn’t always provide self-centeredness.

The presence of the Labour Party delegation proves that Social Democracy is still the vanguard of the working population and that change is not on our agency and shall never be as long as our heart keeps beating on the left ie forever.

victor vella

Aug 14th 2008, 19:06

@ Charles J Butigieg,
OK so in one paragraph you put Nelson Mandela Archbishop Makarios, Agatha Barbara Bertu Hyzler Patrick Holland and topped the cream with Manuel Dimech.I.
Patrick Holland God rest his soul, correct me if I am wrong wasn't he the one who had Fusellu stamping trade licences for a fee and a share in the profits? Remember Fusellu? Charles.?Now Bertu Hyzler and Agatha Barbara did have a noble cause and I bet they passed away in the same financial position that they entered politics there we agree but to mention a Criminal like Manuel Dimech and say that we look upon him as a hero , please don't insult the memory of the people.The trouble with you DNA Perfect part of the population is that you forget people like Boffa, cause your history was erased by Mintoff . Just as Stalin did in the Soviet Union, I don't know how old you are but I remember the period from 1971 t0 1987 quite well and no amount of promises would convince me that labour will ever change. Just look at who you elected as deputy leaders and General secretary.Now to correct it you will have a CEO

M.Azzopardi

Aug 14th 2008, 18:40

Tony Zarb and the GWU are the biggest Maltese shame.......'id-Daddt jrid ix-xoghol'...send him to find a job dear cause I don't want him to be paid from my taxes anymore....

Keith Davis

Aug 14th 2008, 18:36

Its either what Tony Zarb says or else he creates panic. The privitisation must take place in the interest of the workers and especially that of all the country. Can he realize that we paid thier unproductive jobs for too much time. Has Tony ever requested a private company for job guarantees? Tony you are just the country's trouble maker!

Joseph Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 18:32

to me he looks more like a constipated 80's labour militant!

Charles Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 18:26

" they all are looked upon as heroes" by whom Charles?

Charles Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 18:20

@ Charles J.Bitigieg. Do you really believe that Sammy is fighting for a good cause when he has much of the blame for the present ruinous state of the yard? Why Sammy did not fight at the time when he was removed from Chairman by A. Sant? The whole truth is that Sammy has found an other occasion to stir up the extremes elements of the labour party. The presence of the labour party's top brass at the meeting shows one thing. "the more labour changes the more they stay the same"

Charles Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 18:01

@ L Coleiro To me he seems more like Dalai Lamas pressing for Independent Tibet.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 14th 2008, 17:48

@ Victor Vella. The British labelled George Grivas and Archbishop Makarios as ‘guirillas’.The white population in S.Africa called Nelson Mandela a terrorist. In Malta we had Manuel Dimech, Agatha Barbara, Bertu Hyzler, Patrick Holland and others who were labelled criminals. Now they are all looked upon as heroes. They all had their own different style but they all had one thing in common, a noble cause.

Raymond Farrugia

Aug 14th 2008, 17:42

Don Quixote is seeing windmills again..!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 17:24

Dvella..you stated that they risk giving the government the perfect excuse...If the government has no such agenda, he would not be looking for an excuse....

as for the EU directive..please allow me to quote, from an EU website.

What is an EU Directive?
An EU Directive is a form of legislation that is “directed” at the Member States. It will set out the objective or policy which needs to be attained. The Member States must then pass the relevant domestic legislation to give effect to the terms of the Directive within a time frame set in the directive, usually two years


Directives can be used to set minimum EU standards to be applied at national level, but also leave member states free to apply more stringent national measures, provided these do not conflict with free movement and free market rules.

As for your no colour or creed image...well...it is still strange how people like you only focus on one part of the issue....

Ps. Charles..Im writing from home again...just in case I needed your permission!

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 14th 2008, 17:01

@ Franco Farrugia.
.
Did I ever try to conceal where my political leanings lie? I had supported Labour since The Independence campaign despite my Nationalist family background. Do you see anything wrong in my attitude to refrain from becoming paranoid over a sound bite? I made my point clear that Mailaq was insensitive in his choice of lingo. We all remember the thousands of Nationalists supporters during a mass meeting screaming ‘Salbu Salbu’. I honestly did not believe then that any member of that hysterical crowd literally wanted to see Dom Mintoff crucified on a cross. Do you now expect me to go overboard because a militant of the old school made a fool of himself? I am made of different fibre my good friend and appreciate the fact that Mailaq is fighting a good cause by way of his style, even though I do not necessarily always condone his language. Perhaps Malta needs a few more rough diamonds like Sammy. Our EU Partners have scores like him and people applaud them not instigate the authorities to send them to prison. Sad fact is that there’s a huge element of PN supporters who still admire the Fascist ways. ft.

victor vella

Aug 14th 2008, 16:57

Mr Zarb, when the workers went to the streets the last time they were treated nicely by the SAG , When the workers including your truly Sammy Meilaq towed a ship to block off the harbour they found the people against them out in the streets, and they disappeared in fear of the people. If this is the start of a new political season which is being widely publicised by the MLP then I know that the people with perfect DNA do not know old from new. Whats new ? boq

DVella

Aug 14th 2008, 16:56

@Jeremy Camilleri

It is not a law and neither is it ficticious, it is an EU Directive and YES, the GWU is way out of line in misquoting it and applying some of its usual 'creative' interpretation as an excuse to incite unrest.

By idiots I do not mean the workers, far from it, I am referring to the 'piss and vinegar' self-made firebrands with hidden agendas who, at the slightest excuse, get up on a podium and make senseless bombastic statements and suggestions which are tantamount to inciting violence and terrorism! With respect to Government's agenda, that is neither here nor there as I long ago stopped trusting any politician whatever colour or creed. Given the packages offered, however, it si unlikely Government has a hidden agenda to declare bankrupcy and dismiss the entire workforce. On the other hand, one would ask what the REAL agenda of the GWU is . . . especially considering that they stand to lose on of their most important and biggest power bases! Their only goal seems to be to discredit the government and lay the blame for any subsequent occurrance at its door, even if it means everybody gets made redundant!!

Jean Paul Galea

Aug 14th 2008, 16:50

I believe the government should reduce the people at the dockyard according to their collective agreement. In all collective agreement there is normally a section which treats this situation. I believe they should be given nothing less and nothing more. If that is not stipulated in their agreement it should go according to the employment laws. This is what would happen to anyone employed to any other company. After all Dockyard worker aren't some form of super species which are treated above the law. I also believe that the police should be involved into the situation. Threatening some to be violent is in itself against the law. I hope that if the dry dock workers hit the road they should be closely escorted by the police and people acting violently or instigating violence arrest. Protesting must be always permitted but violence should be punished severely. I hope the police are given enough backup from the politician and HQ to act when it is required. Lets hope it is not a repeat of the bus driver violent protest.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 16:47

Charles Camilleri

Just for the record, I did not write these blogs from work...

Hope that reassures you.

What is strange is that people like you have decided to get up close and personal to yours truly, and yet, there are others who are more active...

As long as its anti union or anti labour rethoric, it doesn't matter were they write from. Am I right?

Trying to scare me off I wonder?...Carry on..I can take it! ; O ) Actually, this is fun! : )

My oh my how people are showing their true colours...

C.Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 16:45

we all hope this time the police will not fail us.They have been warned that next stop will be Castille. They have enough time to be prepared. The people simply won't accept an other fiasco like we had during the transport strike. Heads will have to roll this time.

Charles Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 16:37

Jeremy It seems to me that your job offers enough spare time to engage in this blog. Now i understand why you are so active in defending unproductive jobs.

L. Coleiro

Aug 14th 2008, 16:36

Congrats to whoever took the picture of Sammy Meilaq. he looks like a relay race runner about to cross the finish line :)

E. Schembri

Aug 14th 2008, 16:26

Earth quake Warning!.

Old faces for deputy leaders
...more old face for mlp administtration
...old and unwanted face for General Secretary!

Now same old alliances with GWU.

Has anything changed at all in this party???

The only earthquake we have seen is from the transport workers.

Let hope this time the police will not be caught off guard and allow these people to shame us once more.

emanuel fenech

Aug 14th 2008, 16:19

Scratch scratch scratch and good old Labour comes to the fore. Violent words and actions were made, and these in the presence of three generations of Labour leaders. Hardly surprising, when you consider that one of the past leaders present had described the thugs who terrorised Malta as the Aristocracy of the workers!
How pathetic for the GWU to make use of a little child to further their and the Labour party political agenda. Thank god, the father of that little child can nowadays find work. Which is much more than can be said about the steawrdship of KMB, when the only hope of a job was substandard work with one of the militarised work corps, deprived of union support and other conditions. Where was the GWU then? For all those gullible enough who believed that Labour would change, you have been put on notice.

Alex Ellul

Aug 14th 2008, 16:05

@A. Cassar: You arithmetic: MLP + AD = Absolute Majority in the Maltese Islands.
Alternative arithmetic: PN + AD= a greater absolute majority. Of course this is stupid arithmetic with yours being stupider and stupider, as Alice of Wonderland didn't say.

Next: you said: "Let alone that the MLP has the votes majority in Malta less Gozo. So no dictating manners accepted from the Nationalists Minority Government."

This is not only a stupid statement, but a very dangerous one. You have just deleted Gozo from the world map, I mean your version of the world map, Gozitans please note. But then MLP proponents are hell bent on warping, deleting and inventing things at their own convenience and according to the time of day, week, month or year.

BTW: Why was the GWU so silent during the March election campaign? Answer: Because it was considered as a great liability to the MLPs chances of winning the elections.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 16:01

Dvella..for your benefit a cut and paste of an earlier comment I wrote in another blog...

'If this law is fictitous, then the GWU is way out of line.
If not, and this law does exist, than the Government is duty bound, and legally bound, to honour it'

So I hope that I am clear enough on that issue, even if an explanation of this law would prove beneficial for both of us.

On the other matter, and I quote your comment: 'Don't these idiots realise that they risk providing the government with the perfect excuse to declare bankrupcy and dismiss everyone?'

Whilst not agreeing with your calling people you don't agree with idiots, it is ironic that with your comment you actually seem to agree with what was said yesterday regarding the Government's real agenda.

As to bankruptcy, at the meeting yesterday, certain allegations were made, and have as yet, not been disproved by the Government, such as the call by the Gwu for an independent enquiry as to the reason behind the alleged loss of millions, and the claim by th GWU that the governm,ent insisted that this enquiry should not be made public.....

Why so?

Philip Dupuis

Aug 14th 2008, 15:57

The effect of brainwashing by certain media particularly well known English language and P.N.ones against the “Tarzna” is now surfacing. Of course it is not the inanimate Tarzna but the Tarzna workers who are the victims. The P.N. has long ago resolved to close or destroy it. Now it feels that it is their last opportunity to carry out their plans. As remarked it is not the inanimate Tarzna that is concerned but the workers. It has never happened or just once in a blue moon that a few lines about their skill has appeared in those media. Most of the time, or rather a lot of printing ink has been used to shame the workers, calling them lazy, inefficient, unsubordinated, a waste of people’s money in a word the scum of Malta.
This opinion is strengthened when reading some blogs contributed by people that had never anything to do with the Tarzna. The way they call names the tarzna workers is proof enough. They just repeat what they were fed. Ask them to substantiate their judgment their stock reply: “I read it in the papers, the government said it.”
Do we need more proof of brainwashing?

Denis Catania

Aug 14th 2008, 15:43

Police Commish John Rizzo they are giving you a fair WARNING. Be prepared this time. Only arrests deters future violence.. A well prepared police force deters riots. Arrests doesn't escalate violence. Have the Army on stand by.

Alexander Morana

Aug 14th 2008, 15:41

ha ha ha. This is the last hurrah of the GWU-MLP and the whole damn bloody Left, in Malta.
Wake Sur Zarb, nobody in the whole world in today's economy is guaranteed a job for life!

DVella

Aug 14th 2008, 15:36

@jeremy Camilleri:
Are you actually aware of what the EU Directive on the Transfer of Business states or just accepting the twisted version the GWU is attempting to shove down everyone's throat?? It's a pity that some persist in insulting people's intelligence! I for one am convinced that the majority of the Drydocks workers are intelligent . . . and able to realise that they are not (as usual) being told the whole story by the union.
The Directive makes no mention of voluntary resignations accompanied by golden handshakes such as are being currently offered by Government. Oh and incidentally, it also does not rule out the dismissal of everybody at the shipyards in the event that the privatisation process is sabotaged by the illuminati of the GWU (like the Sea Malta one was) and the business is declared bankrupt. Don't these idiots realise that they risk providing the government with the perfect excuse to declare bankrupcy and dismiss everyone? It won't get any better than this, I wish I was offered a lump sum and a pension to leave my current job!! The GWU just has a hidden agenda, it doesn't want to lose its main power base!!

eric saliba

Aug 14th 2008, 15:36

@ d goggi. in a voting process it is the quantity that matters !! you know one man one vote ???
btw are you suggesting that a gonzipn councillor is a better quality person than a labour delegate? if you are then your comment, in my opinion, is beneath contempt and does not deserve a reply.

Edward Zammit

Aug 14th 2008, 15:11

Here we go again, the law of the jungle, I hope this there won't be any confusion in the streets !!!!!
If so, this time just have the cavalry ready please !

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 15:05

As for all you law to the letter folks....

Are you of of the opinion that the transfer of business law should be broken by the Government....?

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 14:53

Mela...for the benefit of J Sultana...I do not have a paid position in the union, but go there happily on a voluntary basis...been doing that for ages Dear J Sultana.....even availing myself to vacation leave...I thought you would have known that.....

As for B cassar...Well I' ll leave the genitalia issue...Your personal preferences are your own, and I sincerely had no wish to intrude.....

As for your strike issue....you are clear enough...but for your benefit..it is called industrial action....and any such action is legal without the need to perform time and motion studies and that of asking for your permission...

As for good reason for workers to strike...well..in the past political parties have been known to call strikes...so why not a union?

A Mangion.....A hundred words and you fail to answer a simple question..A simple yes or no would have sufficed....seeing that you are slaving away at your job...or are you? Where do you work? As to nikber..do all people who have different opinions to yourself need to grow up?

So first it was the Dockyard..and now you attack ALL Public sector workers....mmm...the plot thickens....

As for the looking clever bit..well...Thanks! much appreciated! you're not all that bad after all....

M.Caruana

Aug 14th 2008, 14:40

@Charles J Buttigieg.
While it is anyone's guess what Mr. Meilaq really intended by nisfrundawk. Are you implying that I could go up to some authority here and tell him nisfrundak and not be taken to court for doing so ? If this was the united states, the land of free speech, Meilaq would probably have been charged for conspiracy.
Even if by a long shot I do try to gulp down your protective reasoning towards this brute, who tells you that there weren't a 100 of his listeners who would take what he said literally and do try to do what he said ? What is Mielaq a Maltese version of a Hamas leader ? Nip such behaviour at its bud, like we had done when another brute had burned the EU flag just outside the shipyards. Don't be appologist for such behaviour, it starts out something small and then it goes out of control, like what happened recently with the bus strike.

Alex Ellul

Aug 14th 2008, 14:35

The young people now know what the old MLP guard looks like. They will carry it in their mind for all their life. Come next election they will remember it and put it in their brain box together with all their poitical experiences. They will put all on their balance scale and see where this will tip and vote acordingly. The MLP_GWU tandem's policies, as expressed in this demo and furthermore by their apologetic commentators below, will help the young acquire a bad taste of the MLP-GWU administrators. But the worst part is Joseph Muscat's highly visible attendance at this demo, highlighted by words that can only be described as extremist to the extreme. Do they ever learn? I have reached the conclusion that they will never learn and the reason is that if the top of the party change their policies they will be deserted by the grassroots who are only interested in: "Minister, do you have a job for me as a night watchman?" and such "pjaciri".

vincent magro

Aug 14th 2008, 14:34

What is it all about? Law and anarchy.No one expect that every one would observe the law but either that who brake it will go unpunished.What justice is if who get a ticket would pay it cos there is no other way and if someone insisting violence to big crowds stay on the run. If it is this,and that's what it seemed,we are only in the kindergarten democracy, and the shame is for the government and not for GWU. justice is to be seen or if not,it would be a precedent for those who wish to do the same.

A. Vassallo

Aug 14th 2008, 14:33

When the former Malta Drydocks council chairman Sammy Meilaq decides to go to Castile to "burst you open" (nisfrondawk) as he said he would do to Castile, he should start from near Manwel Dimech's statue, since the photograph published by The Times captured Sammy with the same posture and even holding papers in his hand just like dear old manuel.

Sammy let us live please.

Louis Gialanze

Aug 14th 2008, 14:32

Having been weakened both by internal rift and financially by the loss of Cargo Handling
revenues, the GWU is now embroiled in one last desperate attempt to cling to its power base. Tony Zarb knows only too well that the shipyard workers might walk away empty handed in the event that the shipyards are declared bankrupt. So why tempt fate Tony. Let the workers take the money and run. Furthermore, I would have thought Dr Joseph Muscat would have listened to better counsel and avoided Paola square yesterday. To make your mark on the party you need'nt associate yourself with the aristos. Preaching to the converted will earn the party next to nothing.

Wistin Schembri

Aug 14th 2008, 14:31

Dr Muscat,

It was great to see you yesterday, accopmanied by the creme de la creme.

The memories of KMB with the Dockyard workers on the streets are not nice at all.

Is this the earthquake you promised Dr Muscat?

It was a good idea to have Manuel Cuschieri present yesterday...when will you put him on air? Or is he part of the ethics committee you set up?

Franco Farrugia

Aug 14th 2008, 14:29

@ Charles J Buttigieg: I don't think that we need to listen to Meilak's explanation. We know the way you write politically; we also know who Meilak is - looking at that picture is enough! - and we also know what the GWU would wish to take place in Malta. However, neither Meilak nor anyone from the GWU was voted to govern the country!

A. Vassallo

Aug 14th 2008, 14:25

Yesterday's meeting for the Malta Shipyards employees called by the gwu was absolutely not the place for Dr. Joseph Muscat, Dr. Alfred Sant and all the other Labour MP's.

Their attendance clearly shows that for the mlp, the gwu was and still is a preferred trade union. I humbly suggest to the new mlp leader, and to his mp's to keep to their political carrier and mission. KEEP OUT OF IT.

I did not include Dr. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici since he is the gwu legal advisor besides being an ex-leader of the mlp.

L Borg

Aug 14th 2008, 14:21

First the hunters then the bakers, public transport and now the Drydocks. Well well well GonziPN is making quite a number of dangerous enemies. All of you here are on the goverment side on this issue. Personally i will not take any sides because i haven't forgot ...yet ....Dr. Gonzi promising a bright future for the Malta Shipyards during a meeting in Mosta just a couple of weeks prior the election.

Maybe these reforms need to be done ....true....but from the other hand how many promises is GonziPN gonna break before the people start revolting. We had a taste with the transport strike now it seems that the Tarzna workers are next.

And i ask you all who do you think will be next??? University Students??? Why not ??? after all even their stipends are taken from our taxes and what are they giving back to the country??? They go and work somewhere in Europe!! So why don't we do like other European Countries and make them pay for their studies. Why not??? After all we are all in the EU..... like it or not!!!

albert spiteri

Aug 14th 2008, 14:20

What a classist rabble you all are! Your class hate goes beyond words! Seems very much like dockyard workers are the next victims on the infamous NP proscription list. What a pity. We have too many who enjoy sowing the wind.

Emanuel Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 14:20

I would expect. Joseph Muscat, Alfred Sant and Carmenu Mifsud Bonnici to comment on yesterday's meeting. and tell us what they think about what was said by Zarb and Meilaq.

are they still going to support terrorism? and will they be loyal to GWU in front of Castille?

R.Spagnol

Aug 14th 2008, 14:10

Being myself at the demostration, I was very fond of harsh Nationalist supporters screaming blue murder while Sammy talked while applusing him wholeheartedly. The first step to make everything plain sailing is to urge our disastrous government in publishing its secret documents. A man in the street could invent a plan or some sort of funny alternatives. The simple truth lies in the history of the PN which from 1987 up to now aimed to destroy the shipyards.

Now Gonzi should respond for all irresponsabilities of the management,

how can he set up the best image for the shipyards if he wants to reduce the tanker facilities which make up most of the shipyards' operations???

When are we going to see the shipyards' decisions of refusing work published????

Who are the shipyards' advisorts whom the government kept secret?? How come that the shipyards were making Lm3 for any lira spendt and now we have arrived at a dead end???

However could explain to me why a person who has recently destroyed another shipyard, was appointed to be involved in serious shipyards' decisions???

Where is responsability Dr. Gonzi???? What did really mean all those promises of last years???

DVella

Aug 14th 2008, 13:53

Question:

Where was Mister Meilaq (or for that matter Toni Zarb) when Alfred Sant dissolved the Drydocks Council?? Where were these pseudo-marxist throwbacks with all their threats of violence, toppling governments and kicked-in doors when Mintoff accused the entire Drydocks workforce of lacking genitals????

D. Goggi

Aug 14th 2008, 13:44

@ eric saliba.

Dear Eric.. when I was young and attended school and university, I was told on separate occasions that it’s not the quantity but the quality. Hence the 80 executive members vis-à-vis the 900 members you quote..

On a stronger note, hence the 5 PN governments vis-à-vis the 1 MLP Government (with a shorter term) in the past 25 yrs.

Stop all these politics.. the more you argue about it, the more you convince young voters (like me) with different opinions rather than ideologies to stick to one particular party when the voting booths are open. But any way.. in my young experience so far, I can confidently say that so far the Maltese proverb "Hmar taqtalu denbu hmar jibqa" is 100% true.

leonard lombardo

Aug 14th 2008, 13:41

so sammy meilak returns after years in the doledrums with his usual military phrases now a new one,nisfrundawk watch your tongue cause the people will do exactly you ask for and than they will jisfrundaw you once and for all, remember one thing nobody has the same job for life,if a company is making losses what do you expect to keep on working with losses and the taxpayer keeps subsidising the workers for nothing.Dear prime minister and fellow ministers keep on doing what is best for the country and if privatisation fails than close the yard down we are fed up with forking out more money for no productive work,so sorry all of you at the gwu your time is up and you workers if you have the decency to admit that sammy and tony are using you, so better take up the schemes than have nothing at all.as for the mlp and its leaders i thought they had more common sense than go to a military meeting shame on you!!!!!is-sewwa jirbah zgur and believe me it will and the union will be deserted just as happened at sea malta

C.Mizzi

Aug 14th 2008, 13:40

Wow how exciting !!! Castille is the next stop warned Tony Zarb. Lovely Tony !!! And more buzzy was Sammy's declaration...n i s f r u n d a w h !!! Wow what a buzz !!! And what about Paul ? Geeeeee .....!!!!....... he told us that the yard is making profit ! Tal-genn Paul !!! Did you hear the lat one ? Tony, Paul and Sammy were casted for the next Harry Potter movie !!! Thrilling isnt it ? Cant wait to see them at Bastille !!!

a.cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 13:30

@ Charles J Buttigieg.
Come on let it out. Meilaq is an embarassment and you're trying to minimise the damage this sort of lingo tends to cause . "Nisfrundawk" can be taken literarly more so when we know that Tony has threatened to take the workers to Castille. We all remember the recent scenes when the bus drivers tried to enter Castille during the strike.

Rodnick Abdilla

Aug 14th 2008, 13:29

@ Daphne Caruana Galizia

If Alfred Sant was elected and the over time issue never happened,

What would you write you about him ? What would you say ?

Cause you never said something about things that LORYY GONZI said and never did.

R Muscat

Aug 14th 2008, 13:03

You all sound like a scratched record @John Saliba (maybe ABBA singing Waterloo). The fact remains that the Govt can't seem to get one right. First the transport saga and now opening cannons on MDD to shift attention from the problems back home. Carry on Gonzi. Flimkien Kollox Possibli.

Nik Xuereb Conti

Aug 14th 2008, 13:00

At a glance Tony Zarb resembles a Tibetan Monk in a reb robe and shaved head, protesting for freedom! Could it be the Dalai Lama's maltese cousin? ;)

Pierre Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 12:58

Carry on like this GWU! Continue ensuring PN election victories! Mr. Zarb don't you understand that Malta moved on and that 70's and 80's rhetoric like yours justpushes people away?

a.cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 12:56

Tony and Sammy you are political dinosaurs. Will you never learn that your way of doing things frightens away would be sympathisers? what will you do when you get to Castille? Valletta's streets do not belong to the government but neither do they belong to you. the people remember only too well the last time you 'occupied valletta's streets. You have a responsibility to control the hotheads and any damage to person or propertywill lie squarely on your shoulders. This is 2008 not 1986.

Jean Pierre Aquilina

Aug 14th 2008, 12:55

"Dr Gonzi... Castille is yours but the roads are ours."

...and the money is the taxpayers'.

joseph farrugia

Aug 14th 2008, 12:50

Can anybody inform me when a meeting was held by GWU held to tell the workers to give their working hours and do their part at work when the Dockyard was loosing all those millions (Lm400).
So the GWU is part of the situation the workers are in today because the GWU had never lift a finger to advise the workers on their responsabilities.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 14th 2008, 12:47

‘Nisfrundawk’ is a negative and a turn-off phrase by all means but ‘topple’ does not fit as a translation. Topple means titgerbeb; taqa jew tixhet minn fuq net. To topple the government we would normally use the unambiguous phrase ‘inwaqqaw il-gvern’. Literary, nisfrundaw means to break-in,’nisfrundaw il-bieb’ and a more aggressive meaning-‘inkissru’ like in ‘nisfrundalek sidrek.’

Meilaq is a militant of the old school and certainly not a role model of a modern union leader however the sound bite was unfair as anybody with the basic knowledge of the Maltese language will tell you that the term ‘nisfrundaw’ cannot be taken literary when used.

While trying hard not to sound like I am protecting Meilak for his bad choice of lingo I would prefer to hear his explanation than being judgemental.

Silvan Said

Aug 14th 2008, 12:42

Part 1
When will Tony Zarb and Sammy Meilak learn? can they not read the mood of the people? Look at the fiasco that happened to the Transport Federation with the Strike and learn.

There is much to criticise in the Government's plan but all they can do is drum up the crowd's tempers using the Summer heat and all.

Perhaps thus is the end of Tony Zarb and Sammy Meilak at last and we will never see or hear from them again after this.

And please Dr Joseph Muscat, watch your step. you may find that you are allowed very few mistakes.

John Saliba

Aug 14th 2008, 12:34

It has often been said that those who cannot win an argument resort to violence. It is only dawning on me now... the MLP and GWU do not have a sound argument. Guess what? They tend to resort to.... But this time they are meeting their Waterloo.

Joseph Sciberras

Aug 14th 2008, 12:31

This is what Dr Gonzi said on the 11th February 2008: “Taking another question about the future of Malta Shipyards, for which subsidies are to come to an end at the end of the year, as per EU rules, Dr Gonzi stressed there were no plans to downsize the workforce. The operations’ problem, he said, is that of productivity and that a future PN government would, at all costs, find the means with which to increase productivity and to get operations back on their feet.” He did not promise that there would be no downsizing but simply that at the time there were no plans for it. So stop twisting his words.

As for those who keep on stating that this is a "minority" government, clearly they do not understand the electoral rules. Where were they in 1981 when the PN had the absolute majority of votes at 51% (in 2008 the MLP got LESS votes than PN) and yet the MLP ruled? The PN is ruling with a relative majority as the party in parliament with the largest number of votes. This is absolutely normal in a democracy.

eric saliba

Aug 14th 2008, 12:29

@ daphne. what has the labour gen sec to do with all this? a. cassar's comment was factual. if you want to make silly comparisons mention the gonzipn gen sec who was chosen out of about 80 exec members as compared to the labour 900 delegates.
and btw....dr paul borg olivier was not the one the higher echelons of gonzipn wanted in the first place.

A Mangion

Aug 14th 2008, 12:27

@ jeremy camilleri

I will tell you where I was.

I was hearing Dr Sant's doom outlook on our economy. I was reading Joseph Muscat's articles on L-orizzont and his super one broadcast urging us against EU membership. I was looking at the Government plea for financial help to improve the skills of our dearest resource: human resources. I was impressed by the important stragetic move taken by Minister Gatt to face reality and train us workers to have a better alternative job.

Mr Camilleri, as you seems so much clever or guru, why are you wasting your time in these blogs instead of doing productive work. Or wait....maybe you work in the public sector or....you're an ELF!!!

Iftah ghajnejk siehbi u thallix il-politika taghmik. I'm not a Nationalist but a simple worker who works hard to earn a living. And i hate it when people like you insist that i should subsidise other inefficiencies. Mr Camilleri, IKBER!!!!

B Sant

Aug 14th 2008, 12:22

GWU has mishandled its issues for a long stretch now and now when they face a real challenge they are unable to exert pressure. They are blackmailed. They know it and they got nowhere to run.
On the otherhand there is a huge smell of partisan politics from the government's side. He had been part of the gang that robbed the law abiding taxpayers to buy social stability. It was a high price indeed!. Now he cant rewind back the clock and expect us to pat him on the back for treating the MS like trash(revenge?).
In the previous downsizing exercise the MS had the facility to choose its staff that wanted to leave. I presume that the reason for those who were not allowed to leave was because they were more prodcutive. So the govt enrolled in his books less productive employees and NOW he wants to close the door to the more productive group. This is totally inconsistent .
For a change i will sympathise with the MS workers, pity their union leader is not up to the job.
i expect much better from a Community Fellow

Matthew Azzopardi

Aug 14th 2008, 12:21

G.Grima (1 hour, 14 minutes ago)
Please note that even ALTERNATTIVA DEMOKRATIKA took part in GWU's protest, so it's not just Labour. Also keep in mind that MLP+AD enjoy the absolute majority of the Maltese electorate.


OMG.....This is really funny! The MLP+AD should all go to Castille with the GWU and topple the goverment. Ehm.....BTW, they should have been in power for 5 months now, if JM was right!?!?! hahahaha! pure lovely stuff. keeps the joke pouring please

Kevin Borg

Aug 14th 2008, 12:19

@ Liam Borg

I read your comment and I agree to almost all your comments except for the comments regarding if we beleived the goverment. As I said yesterday all those who could not read the writing on the wall were either blind or simply ignorant of the facts surrounding them. I never beleived doctor Gonzi when he said the jobs are guaranteed and I don ot even work in the shipyard. But looking at other shipyards in the Med, such as those in Greece, one could easily tell the future of our shipyards.

The workers have no fualt in this issue, as you rightly said in your comments, and have the right to work and earn a decent living. But these workers were mislead, mismaneged and politically abused by all stakeholders involved, the Goverement on top, the managment with its incopetence and lack of foresight and last but not least the Union with its intransigence and obsession to ride the oppositions band wagon.

terrenceborg

Aug 14th 2008, 12:10

Shame on you who support GonziPN. There is only one point to do. GonziPN before the general election told the Drydocks workers that they have a guaranteed secure job. Now what we are seeing???
This is not the first time that PN lied to workers before the general election to gain votes. Where is the Guarantee of the work???
The dockyards workers want WORK WORK and only WORK.
For your information in yesterdays mass rally there wasn't only the MLP but also AD and other NGO's. This means the absolute majority. GonziPN pls stop this arrogance.

Paul Xuereb

Aug 14th 2008, 12:10

This country is sick and tired of pouring out millions on a dockyard that has never worked efficiently in decades. If the 'aristocracy of the workers (in KMB's famous or infamous definition) takes to the streets to create mayhem, I trust the police and if needs be the AFM will be there to stop them.
What the GWU will end up doing is to force this Givernment to do what it desperately does not want to do: declare the Dockyard bankrupt.

Kevin Borg

Aug 14th 2008, 12:08

@ Daphne Caruana Galizia re comments by Mr. Cassar

Wrightly said. Some people need to sit down and have the decency to buy a couple of books about democracy to learn at least the basics of how it works, before they blab out some garbage formula about how votes should be added up. This mistake was already made once in this country during the referendum. Please lets not repeat it and make fools out of ourselves.

Ronald Gauci

Aug 14th 2008, 12:07

How you can keep subsidising any entity that keep makes loss at least 20years ?
Is it the same for the country finances I ask ?So what should we do offer the goverment an early retirement scheme by the same argument?
Why it had to be the EU to tell us that is wrong? Which of course it is!
Now its too late to tackle the problem!How can some people say that the ship repair industry is finished? So where are ships around the world being maintained or repaired? The subsidised money had to be used better example diversificate in another sector of building solar panels.
The problem in Malta is always the same, bad management thats' all!
The people get jobs here not on their capabilities but in which colour their CV is written!!!
They get paid not how much they are productive and sucessful for the entity but with a fixed salary + bonuses !
And then when something goes wrong we just quit the job the important thing that we can enjoy our bank account!! Why is different in the private sector?
Come on wake up people use your brain! Il-huta minn rasha tinten!!

J.Sultana

Aug 14th 2008, 12:04

Hi Jeremy ! I saw you on the truck yesterday. Happy with what Tony, Sammy and Joe said ?
Satisfied that the next tappa is Castille ? Is your position at the GWU guaranteed ?

Liam Borg

Aug 14th 2008, 12:00

I do not agree with the militant rhetoric but I certainly agree with GWU's cause. First of all you had Dr. Lawrence Gonzi who on the 11th of February 2008 declared that there will be no downsizing. This was a cheap lie. Secondly you have the GWU doing its job, i.e. to safeguard its workers in all the ways it can, if it did not do so than its very existence is futile. Third you actually have a state of compromise between the Government, the MLP and the Union which all agree with privatization but this not mean that the Government should have a free card to play with the future of a thousand+ families in any way it deems fit. Fourthly you are somehow all suckered in to believing that the Government has had nothing to do with the yards' mismanagement and you actually seem to enjoy to treat these HUMAN BEINGS as leeches which are the only cause of your financial problems.

United Nations Declaration of Human Rights - Article 23(1)

Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

Mark Spiteri

Aug 14th 2008, 11:55

Here we go AGAIN.
Next stop CASTILLE....fine, and ? then what ? Going to burn the place down ?
A small reminder of "bullying" is the strenth of the people.
Forget it,those times are gone and are rid off.
There is a way out for the workers,so move on and go for it.
Most of these skilled workers should not find any problems with seeking employment when they take the "sum"....Mr Zarb dont mess this one up as well.

Kevin Borg

Aug 14th 2008, 11:52

As usual the issue is sourly turining into a political tug of war. Taking a look at some of the comments posted and at the Labour leadership at the meeting. It is a good indication were the issue is heading itself. The Union, without any surprise, is taking up on its wagon all those who are against the goverment and calling all the rest 'Hodor'. All those who read all the local news papers issued, could read for themselves the attack by Mr. Tony Zarb on all those who posted their opinions on various blogs. As usual Tony Zarb made the hasty conclusion that all these are, "Hodor, Haddiema li jahdmu fl-ufficju fl-aircondition, u Nazzjonalisti li jridu jmexxu l-aganda tal-gvern".

Hasty comments from a person that is feeling the responsability of the situation and feels cornered. Comments from the usual retoric. As Sir Winston Churchill used to say " A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject". And the Union's meeting fit exactly this qoatation. Always the same rhetoric, 'Ahna u intom', 'Il-komdu u il-batut', 'Il-haddiem tal-pinna u l-haddiem ta' l-id'. The 1917 Bolshevist revolution is over and far gone by.

K Xuereb

Aug 14th 2008, 11:47

@ G Grima and A. Cassar.

Your arguments don't hold any water. Do you really believe that you won't find a single Labour sympathiser who deep down is sick to the back teeth of shelling out millions of Liri and Euro to be swallowed up by that black hole a.k.a Malta Shipyards?

By all means strike if the GWU feels the need to bring its message home but enough with the militant rhetoric and loutish behaviour.

One would have thought that Tony Zarb and Sammy Meilaq took note of last month's transport stoppage and the near universal condemnation heaped on the drivers from the entire country and realised that bluster, arrogance and tough guy language won't win them any sympathy.

The streets don't belong to you Tony Zarb and neither to the so-called 'aristocracy of the workers' or '8th Army'. They belong to all of us. Have the good sense to stay within the law in any future actions and behave yourselves in OUR (as in the people of Malta) streets.

Daphne Caruana Galizia

Aug 14th 2008, 11:42

@ A. Cassar: If this government is a minority government, what does that make Labour's secretary-general?

B Cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 11:40

Part 2

@ Jeremy

With regards to genitalia, I am afraid that I am not blinded by this but the fact is that the loveable JM jeopardised his image for the so called "floating" voters. Is this not true?
Which brings us to the JM cohones part, he promised an earthquake and instead we got nothing. It is a fact that for a healthy country to operate we need a good opposition but I fear that GWU's chains are yet again holding down the MLP from being what this country needs.

MLP together with all the other entities should condone such instigation and not applaud it, even if the principles are the same it is not the way to go about things.
Also what is JM doing being seen with KMB and AS, the only 2 leaders in the grand history of MLP to bring defeats and shame to its partisans.

Emanuel Farrugia

Aug 14th 2008, 11:39

Why is Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi so afraid to allow an independent investigation into the Drydocks Fairmont contract ?

Why is it bad to hold protests in Malta, when they are carried out all over the European Union ?

Why is it that when the General Worker,s Union is involved in democratic protests to protect it's members interests, the dogs of war come out in force, but not when other Trade Unions make protests ?

B Cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 11:37

Part 1

@ Jeremy

I would like to apologise as I guess I was not clear enough. When I said strike I really meant protest. To strike you have to work first so the term strike is not applicable.
As you know their are protests and then their are protests and what the GWU is instigating is an attack on our countries Governement /Prime Minister and its people.
Since the GWU, MLP, AD, Moviment Graffiti and Zmienijitna ( i hope i did not leave anyone out) applauded the behaviour of pre 1987 behaviour the government should also adopt a pre 1987 behaviour, why not re-form the SMU? (i just had a shiver up my spine).
Well obviously our government does not accept that behaviour (violence) and this was very clear during the protest that we had a couple of weeks ago.

Joseph Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 11:36

For the past eighteen years I managed to notice MLP gaffes one after the other...then after a few years I would find all of them listed in MLP defeat reports. So now I am expecting the next MLP defeat report to include Joseph Muscat's association with GWU. Call it prophecy, intuition or sheer genius. But many say it is just elimentary, my dear watson!..

John Portelli

Aug 14th 2008, 11:29

Although I am against militant unions, workers do have a right to protest if they feel that their jobs and livelihood are threatened. As long as they are pieceful, it's their right. Also, sad to say, the government of the day has became very arrogant and does not want to listen to anyone.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 11:28

As for A Mangion and Denim and Bortex...
Where were YOU when these workers were guaranteed a future in Pn Meetings(still not banned are they?)
Where were YOU, when the livelihood of these workers was joked about in playful bets made by one of our ministers?

I wonder...

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 11:25

Wrong signals...well...so does typing in caps....but well..nothing we can do about it...

As for the proposals...Could you give us the details about them please? I ' m sure you must have the details since you stated that they were generous.

As for pre 1986...are you suggesting that this should be the way forward?

As for your other claims and allegations..Could you kindly re read the questions asked in my previous contributions...Ignoring them as well..and yet they are so simple! I wonder why?

Anton Vella

Aug 14th 2008, 11:24

this is really a do or die for GWU...... They had been offered the golden chance to DO something sensible and credible for the good of the country, and while they will be still defending the dockyard workers, they were expected to pull the rope , in same direction , together with the government, to achieve success in the privitasiation exercise.

instead they choose to DIE, and pull down with their failure all those hard-headed and politically motivated, dockyard workers. Its a pity because I am sure that amongst all dockyard workers , one can find intelligent, responsable and skillfull employees, who, at the present moment are capable to find good and well-payed jobs with the private sector.

To top it all, they are beeing offered a good sum of money , paid from my taxes, under the early retirement scheems, prior leaving their present job. Its an opportunity not to be missed.

GWU is only playing a dirty game with 1700 families, just to keep on reminding us that they are still that OLD MILITANT ENTITY. They know that the Government choose the best solution, and there is no other alternative solution.

NO DEAL

Joe Micallef

Aug 14th 2008, 11:19

I wonder why so many people hate the GWU and the drydocks worker, they are people not just numbers, don't you thing that behind the workers there are familys, is this the kind of solidarity the maltese people have? thing about it

A. Cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 11:16

Prosit Mr. G. Grima. Yes MLP + AD = Absolute Majority in the Maltese Islands. Let alone that the MLP has the votes majority in Malta less Gozo. So no dictating manners accepted from the Nationalists Minority Government.

GEORGE CUTAJAR

Aug 14th 2008, 11:16

THE PRESENCE OF LABOUR'S TOP BRASS AT THIS MEETING IS SURELY SENDING ALL THE POSSIBLE WRONG SIGNALS TO THE MAJORITY OF THE MALTESE PUBLIC.
LABOUR HAS DECLARED IT IS NOT AGAINST PRIVATISATION AS HAS THE UNION SO WHY ALL THIS HOOLABALOO.
WHETHER YOU ACCEPT IT OR NOT THE DOCKYARD IS BANKRUPT AND IT IS JUST BEING PROPPED UP WITH OUR HARD EARNED CASH.
BUYING OUT THE WORKERS IS NOT THE IDEAL SOLUTION BUT PERHAPS WE CAN LIVE WITH IT AS WE HAVE DONE ON OTHER OCCASSIONS BUT NOW ENOUGH IS ENOUGH DEAR TONY.
GET THE WORKERS TO FACE UP TO THE REALITIES OF THE MODERN WORLD AND INSTEAD OF DEMONSTRATING AND SHOUTING ALL OVER THE PLACE GET THEM TO ACCEPT THE GOVERNMENT'S MORE THAN GENEROUS PRPOSAL AND LOOK AHEAD.
IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER EUROPE. THE DOCKYARD INDUSTRY HAS NO PLACE IN A MODERN EUROPE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE WAY FORWARD PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ONLY SANE SOLUTION TO ERADICATING THIS MONEY SUCKING MONSTER ONCE AND FOR ALL.
ANYWAY REMEMBER WAY BACK IN 1986 - LABOUR GOVERNMENT'S FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION. NO DEMOS THAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE WORKERS JUST LUMPED WHAT WAS THROWN TO THEM.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 11:15

As for clapping....well..that should be banned as well..along with union meetings, industrial action and the like...

Ps...were you one of those people who clapped and cheered when our beloved President told everyone in a public meeting (still no law preventing that) that no oil was to be found in Malta in 1998?

A Mangion

Aug 14th 2008, 11:14

Hallina Sur Zarb.

Time up. Please pick up your bags and leave!!

We the workers from whom taxes are collected are fed up funding inefficient sectors. You should praise the government for stopping all this and applaud it to use our workers' taxes more effeciently not continue with this daylight robbery. Do you really have the workers' interest at heart? Than applaud this move. Where were you when the Denim and Bortex employees ended up unemployed? Where were you when the Phonecia employees had their problems?

You're a showman and not a leader. You're an opportunist and not a negotiator. You talk to safeguard the interest of the minority and not majority of workers who fund their inefficiencies.

Your days are numbered Tony. Issa Daqshekk!!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 11:12

Whilst typing erros do tend to cramp our style, if we have any that is, militant and military are totally different words.. and I guess you knew that...privatisation and privtisation well....now thats doesn't really give a different meaning to its substance...

As regards privatisation, whilst you are an expert in spelling it...well....its good to see that you love to ignore simple questions....

E Gatt

Aug 14th 2008, 11:10

In the GWU daily L-Orizzont section secretary Paul Bugeja was quoted as saying that the Drydocks is not bankrupt and it was actually making profits from the work done by its employees.

If Mr Bugeja belives so, maybe the government can do a deal with them and hand them over the Drydocks for a couple of years but with a couple of conditions namely that they would absolutely receive no subsidies and that they have to pay all taxes, N.I and W&E bills etc. Let's see if they can make that work!

Gerard Mangion

Aug 14th 2008, 11:08

Shame Shame Shame !

So Castlle is next , Do you think that is the most wise Option Sur zarb, you are leading the
Workers but tell us where ? you are supposed to be a responsable man, but sorry to say that with your attidude you are jeopardizing not only the Workers but the whole Country !

a sant, karmenu, and J.m, are backing the gwu too, but I wonder what were their smiles were about
???????? Surely no Bidu Gdid ! come on and get to Work really for the Malese workers,
We are in the 2008, and not 1970's Or 1980's ! the wole World changed but the mlp never Will
All you need is LOVE !!!

caroline crutchley

Aug 14th 2008, 11:05

I am sorry Mr Zarb but the era of a right to a job pasted many years ago. Wake up and move on or you will be a dinasaur due to die and you will take your union with you. Become a training organisation and improve yor members lives that way.

Joseph Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 11:00

By the way, still worried about Joseph Muscat's clapping at the meeting. What was he thinkin!

Rachel Galea

Aug 14th 2008, 10:59

The GWU seems to have suddently woken up to the crises which has been hitting the drydocks for a good decade now at the taxpayers expense. It is now pressing for job guarantees when it knows full well that if it pressed for, instread of hindered, the work practice reforms to go through the workers jobs would not be threathened today and the MDD would have by now been rendered viable. GWU remember, you reap what you sow.

This is just another ploy the the GWU (maybe backed by the MLP seeing that Joe Muscat and other leading MLP personalities were present in the crowd) to upset Malta's economic progress as it knows full well that if the government manages to solve the MDD problem it would get a huge vote of confidence from the people.

One last note to Joe Muscat, if you want the people's vote steer clear of the GWU and its provocative attitude.

Rodnick Abdilla

Aug 14th 2008, 10:58

The Gwu is not against the privitisation

but they are against how the government is treating this people
What is the difference between maltacom,maltco.maltapost ?

they gave them an alternative,and all of them was giving a job, they kept them with the same company . why this people no ?

Joseph Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 10:58

@ jeremy camilleri
privitisation or privatisation? look it up in the dictionary!
I did not need to look up between military and militant cause mine was a typo error. And I am sure you agree, from experience, that 'we bloggers' do err in our typing now and then!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 10:56

B Cassar..

You state that you will not ACCEPT another strike?

Do you know what the statement you have just made really means?

Who are you? the colossus of Rhodes?

Do you think that you have the authority to stop a union, any union for that matter from resorting to a strike....

Just for your information, the right to strike is part of our law?

Are you against this? Could you be clearer? or does your apparent fetish with male genitalia blind your reasoning?

G.Grima

Aug 14th 2008, 10:53

Please note that even ALTERNATTIVA DEMOKRATIKA took part in GWU's protest, so it's not just Labour. Also keep in mind that MLP+AD enjoy the absolute majority of the Maltese electorate.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 10:24

As for the union against the privitisation process....Please re read article...

I quote:He stressed that the union does not want to disrupt the yards' privatisation process or the early retirement schemes being offered, but it could not agree to the schemes unless the government guarantees employment for those workers who wish to retain their jobs.

One last thing..If you folks think that the yard has been overstaffed...Why exactly has the yard employed a large number of foreign workers?

Jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 14th 2008, 10:22

Joseph Agius..Military and militant..Too different words...Look them up in a dictionary and tell us which one you really wanted to use.

Now, as usual...the Questions I LOVE asking but which you experts NEVER answer:

Did the Prime Minister assure these workers that there was no need for downsizing? If yes, what has changed in 5 months. If there has been a drastic loss in just 5 months, every Tom Dick and Harry must realise that this was something bigger than the worker's alleged shortcomings.What were they? why does the Government refuse to hold an independent enquiry?

For all of you tax misers...If a worker accepts the scheme, and the new employer re-employs him, is that not tax money down the drain? It is a possibility as we have no idea what the buyer might want.

Lots of Government employees had a guaranteed job when their company was privitised. I was one of them. Look at Maltapost, Maltacom, etc. What is different here?

I know you won't answer..well you might twist my questions around...but hey..what do you expect?

c.caruana

Aug 14th 2008, 10:18

Even if one started sympathising with the workers, when you see and hear tony and sammy screaming their heads off and threatening violence in the streets one is reminded of the dark days of the 80s. don't they ever learn?

B Cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 10:13

Part 2
I also will not accept another strike like the one we had a couple of weeks ago, will the government stand for this? What was Joseph Muscat doing at the rally? I fully understand showing your support, but Honorable Dr Muscat where do you stand? are you going to be just another muppet? lets face it, we all thought you had balls of steel. we now following how things are panning out would question if you cohones at all!!!!

B Cassar

Aug 14th 2008, 10:13

Part 1

I think I know what the real aim of the GWU is.

SO as it stands to be a member of a union you pay about LM1 (Euro2.33). Multiply that by the number of employees and that would give you Lm1700 per month. Multiply that by 12 months and you have the lovely sum of Lm20400.

So if you diminish the ammount of workers to 700, this would mean that the yearly income would be of Lm8400 per year. and that is if people do not join other unions.

So Mr Zarb, is this one of the reasons or not? as I recall you did not bother that much when it was just a couple of hundred workers that would be laid off. We are hearing about the skill of the workers, whilst I do agree that some of them are very skilled (as i come from a family of dockyard workers) it definately wouldn't be a problem for them to be re-employed even after taking the pension schemes.

J.Borg

Aug 14th 2008, 10:10

***MLP LEADER SHOULD STOP THIS ***

Hon. Joseph Muscat, new MLP leader promised us earthquakes. If he wants to start attracting citizens into his camp, one earthquake he should URGENTLY catalyze is that of creating the largest crack ever between the MLP and GWU. Being present at the GWU meeting is clearly not indicating that he is after creating such an earthquake. The MLP must realize NOW that if they KEEP ON DOING THE SAME THINGS....THEY WILL GET THE SAME RESULTS.....another 5 years in opposition...irrespective if they have the youngest leader. It is in your hands now honourable MEP Joseph Muscat to make clear statements that if the GWU do not agree with Government's proposals, actions in the street by GWU should not be even considered. There are more reasonable ways of bargaining things. The more GWU act this way, the more they give us citizens fuel to make sure we support Government in closing the shipyards NOW. If Joseph Muscat makes no comment on this, he is clearly in favour of supporting the so called forthcoming GWU street riots. The ball is in your hand dear Joseph.

Joseph Agius

Aug 14th 2008, 10:03

How does Joseph Muscat expect us to 'love' him and 'love' his wife if he is seen clapping to this 'back to the 80's' uncivilised military way of speaking. May I ask, where is the earthquake?...we hoped for modern politics but we are having more of the same!

Joseph Sciberras

Aug 14th 2008, 09:59

If proof was ever needed that the so-called "workers movement" has not really changed, this was it. They threaten to use violence in order to have their unreasonable demands met. Let's not forget what they are asking for here, a guarantee that we the taxpayers continue funding the salaries of non-productive workers. They want guaranteed jobs for people in a firm that is all but bankrupt. They do not care that this might negatively affect the chances of the firm being bought by private investors. If the government once again gives in their demands people like me will be sorely disappointed, after all the country has already thrown too much money down the drain to keep the Shipyards going. Money that could have much been better spent on roads, schools, medicine and a million other things needed to improve our lifestyle.

What were Doctors Mifsud Bonnici, Sant, Mifsud and Farrugia doing there if not to show that the MLP is supporting the GWU? Does the new labour leader have anything to say about the threat of violence? How can independent-minded voters ever have faith in people like these?

t. borg

Aug 14th 2008, 09:51

sammy should tell us when he was chairman how many million in taxes we had to pay to keep the shipyard open. better hide with shame.

A. Calleja

Aug 14th 2008, 09:51

That's the spirit.. dont accept the schemes! You make us all proud after sucking the country dry for all these years. We can definitely spend €49m elsewhere!

You are all so pampered. it doesn't work out like that in the real world.

All under 50s can get a job elsewhere with their skillset. The schemes should only be given to the elder ones since it might be more difficult for them to find a job.