Kurt Sansone
Magic Kiosk employees vent anger at owner
Magic Kiosk owner Joe Pace kept insisting with his employees till the very last day that there was no problem and assured them the kiosk would not close down.
Venting their anger and frustration at the way they were misled, the kiosk's employees said Mr Pace was refusing to sign their termination of employment form.
"We have not been paid three weeks wages due to us until January 8, our last day of work," the employees said.
"When I phoned Joe Pace to ask him why he refused to sign our termination forms, he told me he couldn't because he wanted to use us as a 'weapon' in court. He even told me to go and ask the government for a job," one of the irate employees said. Mr Pace denied having said these words. Contacted yesterday, he said he was seeking legal advice on the matter because he did not want to lay off people.
Technically, the employees are still on the company's books, despite the fact that the Magic Kiosk no longer exists. A temporary court order was issued on Monday to stop its demolition, which had been practically completed by the weekend, by the Land Department after the establishment's 30-year lease expired.
By Monday, there was very little left of the turquoise, aluminium structure. Mr Pace had been warned to clear the place by the government, however, employees insisted he refused to let go.
Still, yesterday, he said: "We had all the wages ready to be deposited. I have always paid my employees on time. But what do you do when at 5 a.m. bulldozers start destroying your place of work? I am going to my lawyer to seek legal advice".
When asked whether he was prepared to comment after consulting his lawyer, Mr Pace said his lawyer would be contacting The Times through a letter.
Asked why he kept his employees in the dark about the fate of the catering establishment, Mr Pace insisted there were about 20 other contracts like the Magic Kiosk's, which have expired and had their lease extended.
"All I am asking is to be treated in the same way," Mr Pace said.
But his words are of little consolation to the 10 full-time employees and equal number of part-timers who have to cope with bank loans and other family commitments. Most of the full-timers have been employed with the Magic Kiosk for 20 to 30 years. "We've been reading on the newspapers about the Magic Kiosk but each time we asked Joe Pace whether we should start looking for another job he always insisted there was no problem. He knew what was going to happen but always denied that the kiosk was going to be demolished," the employees insisted.
They feel ostracised by the media because more emphasis was put on the demolition works, the square's rehabilitation and the money that was returned to Mr Pace.
"We have families to feed and it is not exactly the right climate to find a job," they said.
The employees are still getting to grips with the situation. They praised the efforts by the Employment and Training Corporation to help them sort out the mess they are in.
"We found a lot of help from the ETC but in the meantime we expect to be given what we are due. Our bills and loan repayments arrive like everybody else's," they insisted.
Feeling let down by Mr Pace's behaviour after so many years of loyal service they said they are not interested in working for the man again.
19 Comments
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Jane Bartolo
Jan 17th 2009, 17:29
Thanks to the good work of PS Jason Azzopardi, now both the employees and Mr.Pace himself will get what they deserve. The employees for the better, Mr.Pace for the worse...
Jane Bartolo
Jan 17th 2009, 15:59
@ Matthew Agius - Well said! It's about time Joe Pace faces reality and finally pays the price for having acquired the land the way he did.
@ Odette Longo - I think Jason Azzopardi's team has already proven themselves time and time again through the work they've done in just a few months. If you have a case, then I'm sure they're doing their best to help you.
Matthew Agius
Jan 16th 2009, 18:22
@Keith Davis: I agree 100%.
For me this seems like he was trying to take all he could. Justice should be done to these people. They should take what is rightfully theirs. It's not their fault if the owner was doing anything against the law. They still worked their hours.
Keith Davis
Jan 16th 2009, 16:09
I SUGGEST THE EMPLOYEES SHOULD SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AND ENGAGE A REPUTABLE FIRM OF LAWYERS SO TO GET THEIR WORKED OUT WAGES PLUS COMPENSATION FOR THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED FROM THIS GUY AS OBVIOUSLY HE IS TRYING TO EVADE FROM HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.
jcaruana
Jan 16th 2009, 13:52
I worked at magic kiosk 15 years ago, apart from the very poor working conditions we had at the time , I was terminated because I told The restaurant manager that i was not feeling well and I was calling my father to pick me up since I was not in a postion to drive. He told me I could do that but then I did not have to bother to ever come back. Since I could barely stand I lost my job. ( not that I regret it anyway )
PS this happened after 18 months working for them and never took one day of sick..
Philip Sultana
Jan 16th 2009, 09:09
Looks like we're in for the long haul again - the Theatre comes to mind - are we going to live with a demolition site at the Sliema Ferries for a few years? What a great tourist attraction it will make!
C.Sapiano
Jan 16th 2009, 08:27
Good Job that Joe Pace got what he deserved. Pity for the employees...
Joseph Ellul
Jan 16th 2009, 08:25
I am disgusted. I thought this photo was Gaza. I hope that this is an ongoing project not some half cocked plot where there is no money left half way through.
P.Pace
Jan 15th 2009, 19:31
@ M. Mealclaff
"A temporary court order was issued on Monday to stop its demolition"
The Big Blue building is.....the left over of Magic Kiosk.
Yes it looks very terrible!
I hope demolition will resume soon for in my opinion now it became more an eyesore that it was before.
Joe Cordina
Jan 15th 2009, 15:07
Shame on you Joe Pace for letting down your trusted workforce. Why don't you tell us how you acquired the land in the first place when this was run by the Bonello's???
Odette Longo
Jan 15th 2009, 11:42
two weights - two measures
The Government can barge in (even by force) to reclaim what is theirs
and the ordinary person cannot do the same to reclaim property that is theirs (even if it lies empty and abandoned )!
The ordinary man in the street has to spend years and years in court.
Joe Vassallo
Jan 15th 2009, 11:24
I do not know Joe Pace – never met him and never entered the Magic Kiosk.
There are hundreds of “Joe Pace” and they all seem to be immune – people like for example the owners of the hotel at Marfa, which was built illegally on public land.
Unlike Mr. Abela and Mr. Debono, I will rejoice when justice is carried out with all owners of illegal buildings – be they hotels, restaurants, boathouses etc. When that happens, then I will believe that the Government is serious in its campaign.
B Sant
Jan 15th 2009, 11:23
Wots that kiosk still doing there in the photo- why is it still standing or is it a case of two weight two measures?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jan 15th 2009, 11:13
Karl Abela...Armier boathouse village next??
opps...forgot the pre elections promises!!
As for the issue at hand...if the employees version is true, yes, Shame on Joe Pace. The least he could have done was consult with his employees.
One wonders if the employees were unionised.
If not, judging by the recent agreements reached by unions where redundancies have taken place, it just goes to show that even in this day and age, it pays to be a union member.
Joseph Agius
Jan 15th 2009, 11:12
Finally justice (even if delayed!) prevailed!
Rita Camilleri
Jan 15th 2009, 10:40
I am extremely sorry for all the employees at Magic Ksiok, most of whom we know, but this is exactly what happened to the Bonello families (please note plural), when they were bull dozed out of the kiosk.. I hope all will find alternative jobs good luck and god bless.
M Mealclaff
Jan 15th 2009, 10:39
What's that Big Blue building to the lef of the photo above ?
It looks terrible !!
Will that be coming down as well ??
Karl Abela
Jan 15th 2009, 10:19
Looks like another cowboy has been brought down. Well done boys. Now onto the next one!
Pity that we are still having to correct favours of the past because of the 'Il-ligi tal Jungla' !
P Debono
Jan 15th 2009, 10:07
Shame on Joe Pace. How dare he even has the nerve to criticise the government for taking away a place that wasn't even rightfully his in the first place????
THE SOONER THAT PLACE IS DEMOLISHED THE BETTER FOR ALL OF US.