GWU in talks on international boycott of freeport owners
Freeport denies GWU claims
The GWU said this afternoon that it is in talks with a number of foreign trade unions on arrangements for a boycott against CMA CGM - the owners of Malta Freeport - in several foreign ports.
"This action will be taken unless the freeport withdraws the actions it is taking against the GWU," the union said.
The GWU is in dispute with the Malta Dockers' Union on trade union recognition at Malta Freeport. A court last week granted a freeport request for the issue of a €1m garnishee order against the GWU after it ordered a go-slow and work to rule. The GWU yesterday accused the freeport of having abusively suspended three of its members for taking industrial action.
The GWU said its officials were engaged in intensive activity in Malta and abroad to win more support .
"The international support which the GWU is finding from trade unions is growing every day. These unions are viewing the granting of the garnishee order as a serious threat to the existence of trade unions even when they take limited industrial action," the GWU said.
MALTA FREEPORT DENIAL
Meanwhile Malta Freeport this afternoon denied a GWU claim that three port workers had been suspended for obeying directives for industrial action.
The freeport said the three had been suspended for parking their trucks near the gate and not in the established area, according to company procedures. It was the norm at Malta Freeport that when procedures were breached, the workers concerned would be suspending. Indeed, there were other employees who were under suspension for breaching procedures and regulations.
The freeport said one of the three workers indicated by the GWU would be returning to work tomorrow after admitting in a letter to the company that he had left the truck near the gate out of carelessness.
The company said other allegations made against it by the GWU had to be proved in court.
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Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 19th 2009, 11:27
P zammit, Is it the language barrier, or just your way of saying things? You're so hard to understand.
Where did I ask any of you to 'disgrace' UHM? You've got it wrong oh misguided one.
My point is very simple, although some folks tend not to understand simple.
You stated that the GWU has taken a kamikaze approach, and my reply was, why do people like you dear P tend to view a go slow as a kamikaze approach, and yet have no comments regarding total blocakage of Freeport by UHM a few years back.
Once again I can state that I did not agree with the GOvernment taken UHM to court then, and I strongly condemn Freeport Managements actions now. You can read it slowly, maybe this time you'll get it.
You ask me to condemn the GWU action? well...I can only state that these actions have my unequivocal support, and am not afraid to say so, using my real name.
Now what about you and previous UHM actions?
As for intimidation, are you suggesting that my writing intimidates you?
P.Zammit
Apr 18th 2009, 23:35
Funny how you ask us to disgrace the UHM, when the GWU is doing it double and you tell us to enjoy it. Well I hope what you said does not happen to the GWU, it won't be nice loosing your job, dearest. Similar to the ones you and your GWU are fighting tooth and nail to destroy.
Jekk int ragel ikkundanna l-azzjoni tal-GWU, inkella ghix b'ghali jekk jintilfu l-postijiet tax-xoghol.
The way we sign is none of your concern - It is our right to do so and I am sure you are not saying so in attempt to intimidate us, as you'd be quite wrong.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 18th 2009, 19:04
Funny how you ask me to make the ENglish grade by asking me to read A BIT MORE books......
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 18th 2009, 15:49
P Zammit,
Seeing that you and your bedfellows are so sure that the GWU has done it big and is heading towards oblivion, I wonder why you are wasting so much time and space commenting vehemently against it.
Just watch it drift into oblivion.....that's the GWU's destiny in your book, is it not? And they say I;m the one with Goosebumps.!
Ps Why do you and your fellow cronies insist on signing in initials?
P.Zammit
Apr 17th 2009, 10:38
Hence my goose pimples point.! Are you under some emotional stress ? Too excited about something ? The froga done by GWU over the freeport saga ? My Dear JJ...read a bit more books, you will make the Englsh grade. Come on you can do it :) Oh by the way - Judging from the comments by people on the street, the GWU has done it big this time. Even left leaning people are in awe at what the GWU is doing. Except of course you. CMJ ? - Wasn't it your "Politically mature" leader you asked us to call him Joseph ?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 16th 2009, 23:49
Joe vella...Its a pinch of salt, a grain of sand etc....
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 16th 2009, 22:13
P Zammit...why oh why didn't you look up the word Solidarity as advised?....That answers all your questions..
Of coursem, I am the one wearing polically tinted glasses here..Thats obvious...Now what is a CMJ I wonder? oh yes..its Nationalist wit aimed at the leader of the Opposition.....Strange to hear it coming from someone with a neutral perspective!!!!
At least UHM stopped?
UHM completely halted all Freeport operations...Of course thats a lot lighter than a go slow...Less effective I' m sure......
As for your goosebumps reference..well..I guess you chose the wrong word....One gets Goosebumps when one is afraid. Not the case here..Pick another word....
Come on, you can do it....
P.Zammit
Apr 16th 2009, 15:57
Jeremy Camilleri
When there is a strike there always is a risk for the workers. When a union,. which is supposed to protect workers jobs, goes further more than a strike (which it had no right into doing in the first place since GWU has an issue with MDU and not Freeport) and starts playing about with international boycott of the Freeport, then it stops being a workers union and becomes a workers job assassin. This is the union you work for and I am sure you are so proud of for taking such a stand.
Where was I in 1997 ? Totally against the UHM.
But at least they did not go further, to ensure they really do ruin the jobs of many workers by doing their best to boycott the Freeport, which probably you do not know, works in highly competitive market where loosing a client means loosing huge sums of money and very difficult to get back the lost client + the bad name.
Stop wearing those red tinted blinkers which are more red than the ones CMJ wears.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 16th 2009, 12:37
Michael Vella...Kindly look up the meaning of solidarity....
Now, for the folks with the collective brain....
Was the livelihood of the workers threatened in 1996 with a complete strike?
Anthony Farrugia
Apr 16th 2009, 12:32
Either some people have selective memories or no memories at all!
Where was the GWU in 1977 when bank employees were suspended without pay for seven weeks for showing sympathy with striking Telemalta employees. Then bank employees had house loans called in for immediate repayment and were threatened with dismissal and amalgamation of BOV and Mid Med with only lackeys being remployed.
The GWU was in cahoots with the MLP government and instructed its members to act as strikebreakers.
One may forgive but forget..............Anzi, lest we forget for history has an uncanny habit of repeating itself.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 16th 2009, 11:13
My oh my P zammit has once again misunderstood the situation here....
Industrial actions are under threat...so this is no trivial matter, and as such calls for extreme measures....
Of course, people like only thought industrial action was under threat when UHM ordered a strike at Freeport in 1996, and the PL Government, in a move I could never understand(Brian Spiteri please note), took UHM to court.
Of course, at the time, the Ghaqda Haddiema Partit Nazzjonalista, or something similar, expressed solidarity with UHM. Who's side were you on dear P Zammit(never us their real name do they?)
As to my true colours, it seems that every time I write, someone using initials screams murder at my colours. My true colours are there for all to see, and have been there for ages. I don't have a problem with that.
What are your true Colours dear P Zammit? I mean, it does seem you have an adverse reaction to someone criticising the Government! Of course, for people like you, Government and Pn are one and the same, which is funny, seeing that Pn kind of believed in boycotts once upon a time...
Please bookmark...I can handle that, and more.
Michael Vella
Apr 16th 2009, 07:37
Dear J. Camilleri,
The meaning of fighting your own battles, means to fight for something yourself, without involving others. By trying to involve other unions, the GWU is hardly fighting it's own battle now is it? Oh actually wait...since you are an Assistant Secretary within the GWU i am sure you would have another definition for fighting your own battles, since your very union generally fights it's 'own' battles with a little help from your friends...the PL.
George Cremona
Apr 16th 2009, 00:53
Shame on the GWU and its leaders. Through such actions the GWU is:
threatening the livelihood of the Maltese workers and their families;
making a mockery of the industrial code of ethics;
losing more of its credibility, if it still got any;
losing the ability to negotiate with responsibility and dignity and consequently losing the respect of both employers and employees.
I now turn on to MUT and ask: Is this the Union you want UHM and other real democratic Unions to merge with? It would be madness for serious and responsible unions such as UHM to merge with such kind of unions such is the GWU.
Mary Ann Borg
Apr 15th 2009, 23:27
Well done Ton. So all the hard work to build a credible freeport right in the heart of the Med means nothing to you and your cronies. This is sheer kamikaze-style policy. This just means that if the union doesn't get what it wants it would rather see the Malta Freeport, its workers, and the whole nation go down with it. A real case of 'Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox'.
v.sacco
Apr 15th 2009, 23:11
if mdu is sure of it's majority there is one solution a .....Secret Ballot and everyone will have the result.
the exercise done by the mdu was not which union they want to represent them but in which union they are members till the day.
wake up tony zarb it's time to show them all the names of the workers that signed the petition of resignation from the mdu days before this farce.
d.muscat
Apr 15th 2009, 22:51
min baghta bis surcharge esagerata tad dawl u l ilma l gvern jew il poplu? dak hadd minnkhom ma jsemmieh hawn hux? le dak minhabba r ricessjoni hux, ricessjoni my foot meta l ekonomija tkun sejra tajba globalment il pagi taghna l istess hallihom il gvern, imhatra li jekk ikompli jikber id deficit f dan ix xahar tehel il gwu? mur gib li kieku kien fi zmien gvern iehor u jigu sospizi 3 haddiema ghax obdew work to rule strike x kien jigri.
tiskanta mela kemm l mut kienet thobb lil uliedna hux dak iz zmien tal istrike u halluna!!!!!!!!!!!
v.sacco
Apr 15th 2009, 22:10
Titkellmu hekk ghax ma tafux minn xiex ghaddew u minn xiex qed jaghddu dawn il haddiema! xi nghidu ghal dawk it tlett haddiema li gew sospizi ghax obdew il union u qed jitilfu l flus!
xi nghidu rigward ir riforma li saret? u l haddiema gew traduti u tilfu il flus tal hajja?
xi nghidu ghad dritt tal wirt li tilfu?
ghadni qed nistenna jien ir rizultat dettaljat tal ezercizzju li sar mill mdu!
u kif il maritime qed tghid li mhux hi l employer? meta fuq il pass tal haddiema hemm miktub pass mahrug mill maritime authority! u l interview li jsir lil haddiema isir mill malta maritime authority?
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 15th 2009, 22:01
One last thing..Why do the initial only folks, like PZammit, JFarrugia etc always try either to tell others what to do, or to talk in the royal plural....
It almost sound like they've got one collective brain!!!!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 15th 2009, 21:56
My oh my P zammit has once again misunderstood the situation here....
Industrial actions are under threat...so this is no trivial matter, and as such calls for extreme measures....
Of course, people like only thought industrial action was under threat when UHM ordered a strike at Freeport in 1996, and the PL Government, in a move I could never understand(Brian Spiteri please note), took UHM to court.
Of course, at the time, the Ghaqda Haddiema Partit Nazzjonalista, or something similar, expressed solidarity with UHM. Who's side were you on dear P Zammit(never us their real name do they?)
As to my true colours, it seems that every time I write, someone using initials screams bloody murder at my colours. My true colours are there for all to see, and have been there for ages. I don't have a problem with that.
What are your true Colours dear P Zammit? I mean, it does seem you have an adverse reaction to someone criticising the Government! Of course, for people like you, Government and Pn are one and the same, which is funny, seeing that Pn kind of believed in boycotts once upon a time...
Please bookmark...I can handle that, and more.
d. borg
Apr 15th 2009, 21:16
I think the port workers had better decide which union they want to represent them before they lose their jobs through the actions of the GWU. In these hard times the GWU must not jeopardise the workers' jobs.
Anthony Magri
Apr 15th 2009, 21:14
Let’s hope who is responsible for these blogs is not discriminating against those who see things in their proper perspective. The Times of Malta is known not to have to much sympathy for the GWU.
The effect of the action by the Free Port was predictable: World wide boycott. They are (the free port operators) themselves to blame. Even a person of little intelligence was aware of what will be the consequences. There was no better way than a secret vote to establish the truth. No other way is as clearand fair. Should we now expect the Election Commissioner to send his men to ask people whom they want to represent them in Parliament? What a sham democracy would that be! What would be the reaction of all those who wish the GWU to disappear? Will they accept to state openly whom they want to govern? These are all Smurfs that let out their hate for the GWU. Just chew the cad in the meantime.
Charles Agius
Apr 15th 2009, 21:08
The GWU as if acting on somebody's direct or indirect order is doing anything to foment division and create insecurity at this delicate moment in time.It seems that these people never changed their agenda over the years, and in union with others or hiding behind someone's 'shorts' they are still persuing their eternal dream of making all the country pay for their blunders. Blunders that cost us millions and thousands of jobs. They love the workers more than Dracula likes our blood!
Joseph Attard
Apr 15th 2009, 20:55
GWU Keep on destroying the little left by the economic situation all over the world. Its a typical move that shows that you never change cowboys are only on films today Keep on harming not just your members but other Maltese who never asked you to interfere. I can't believe that a union could create such a situation to harm the workers. Good luck GWU hope to lose the 1€ m perhaps you will learn although it will be to late
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Apr 15th 2009, 20:33
@ Brian Spiteri @ p. Zammit
Jeremy J Camilleri is an Assistant Secretary within the GWU so anything he says have to be taken with a grain of salt. One just wonder what Jeremy J. Camilleri, our in house Industrial Specialist, reaction would have been if the show was on the other foot.
R Agius
Apr 15th 2009, 19:19
Well done GWU - your credibility and integrity are still headed in a downward spiral. Your credibility is zilg. Dig on ..... the hole gets deeper and deeper....
J.Borg
Apr 15th 2009, 19:08
What A Shame!!!!!! Does this union have the right to be called a " workers union ?" Who is the GWU defending, the workers interest or her OWN interest? What about the other employees at the Freeport and their families? What about those who work in factories? Doesn't the union know that the Freeport is vital for the Maltese Economy? It's really a shame to call for international boycott during such delicate and very difficult time for all economies worldwide.
When are you going to grow up? Your only interest should be to really do all you can to attract foreign companies to our island and not mention "boycott".
Anthony Farrugia
Apr 15th 2009, 18:48
The only way out of this impasse is by verification of paid up membership.
Is the GWU aware that there are other ports in the Mediterranean waiting for a golden opportunity being handed to them on a plate for shipping lines to stop calling at the Freeport and instead start calling at other ports? Is the GWU aware that there is a recession out there?
The GWU is endangering workers livelihood because it is afraid to open its membership records to official scrutiny when the truth will come out about the number of its dwindling members (excluding the pensioners section, of course). The GWU should celebrate the forthcoming May Day by protecting members' jobs not endangering them.The GWU is encouraging an international boycott against CMA CGM - the owners of the Freeport-is this an example of protecting workers' jobs in these troubled economic times by putting Malta first and foremost?
Grazio Vella
Apr 15th 2009, 18:44
This stand confirms that the Port Workers are not members of the GWU. If they were, the GWU would not be doing its utmost to make them lose their livelihoods. And all this to obtain recognition!
No wonder the Freeport does not want to deal with the GWU. It is doing this when it has no issue with the company; what will it do when it has?
It is really a case of 'when we are at the bottom, we dig deeper'. Crazy move indeed.
Joseph Scicluna
Apr 15th 2009, 18:35
The balloon has burst in your face Ton.
Godwin Pullicino
Apr 15th 2009, 18:30
GWU - shame on you, shame, shame shame!!! The GWU leadership team should resign en bloc for going against the interests of its own workers, workers in general, the Malta Freeport organisation and Malta as a nation. The last thing Malta needs at this time of world-wide hardship where millions are losing their jobs is to score own goals of this sort. Time to accept the verdict, respect it and move on.
P.Zammit
Apr 15th 2009, 18:29
Jeremy J
You're joking right?
So your true colours are out. You justify a union that takes a kamikaze approach, irrelevant of risking the livelihood of so many people!
Your answer to that, is, Enjoy it.? Cool man - very cool of you. Did you get any goose pimples with the excitement of writing that?
Let's all bookmark this comment, so the first time this man cries foul when the government does something we will just slap it back at him.
As someone already mentioned here, this goes to show that the GWU really does not enjoy any union recognition amongst the Freeport workers - so now the GWU is going to pay them back by threatening their livelihood.
Let's see Call Me Joseph's reaction now!
John Borg
Apr 15th 2009, 18:21
If the MUT or UMASA strikes the students will suffer....if the MUMN strikes the patient will suffer..if the Airline Pilots strike tourism will suffer, if the Transport Workers strike the general public will suffert.....can I please ask some simple questions...Do workers in Malta have the right in to strike or not? Is the right to strike on paper only? Do some people who have posted their comments against the GWU know exactly the implications of the Malta Freeport Actions? One friendly advice to all of you....don't forget that one day it may be you who is affected and critised for taking industrial action? Ask the teachers, or the university lecturers, or the nurses, or the health assistants or the nursing aids or the transport workers!
Joe Scerri
Apr 15th 2009, 18:16
Another Phoenicia in the making.
Brian Spiteri
Apr 15th 2009, 18:14
@ Jeremy J Camilleri
My dear friend,
Who are we to side one union and not the other? The issue here is between 2 unions. The issue here is not related to conditions or heath & safety of workers. It's just a case of fighting for recognition and thus increase the Union revenue.
I hope that you backed the UHM when it was taken to court by the MLP in 1997 to pay millions of liri in damages for taking industrial actions on a national matter? Did you know that if UHM lost that court case it would have been forced to close down? And apart from that Unions would have lost their legitimate right to strike on national issues??
Did you know that?? And the funny side of it is that during that time, NO ONE backed UHM except the CMTU. Absolutely NO ONE!!! strange ux??
Paul Barrett
Apr 15th 2009, 18:06
By calling on and working for an international embargo against the Freeport owners (which has nothing whatsoever to do with the dispute between the two Unions) is not going to help matters at all.
Are the Unions trying to self-destruct and bring down the Freeport, the workers and the Country with them?
Playground and spoilt child are two words that come to mind.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 15th 2009, 17:41
A week ago, most of you folks were enjoying themselves and calling on the Union to fight its own battles.
Thats exactly whats happening.
Enjoy it
s schembri
Apr 15th 2009, 17:37
Prosit Tony u il-kumpanija, others are crying for work whilst you are doing your utmost to stop it from coming over here. Veru haqqek prosit. I hope the law courts will eventually award the €1m garnishee to the Freeport for all these damages and inconvenience you are deliberately causing.
Joe Gauci
Apr 15th 2009, 17:35
Very encouraging ... Trade Unions are digging their own coffin ...
Adrian Cardona
Apr 15th 2009, 17:33
yes, perfect move...then the workers will get fired when there's no work for them. Haven't the GWU learnt anything from their Phoenicia fiasco?
Michael Gatt
Apr 15th 2009, 17:24
Proset ghal l-stand li hadtu, who fights with a sword will dye by a sword
Peter Axisa
Apr 15th 2009, 17:17
Is this why the GWU wants recognition at Freeport ? To risk their livelihoods ? Shame on you Tony !
Joseph E Briffa
Apr 15th 2009, 17:08
The action taken by the GWU is NOT 'limited industrial action'. What does it expect to get by telling its handful of members at the Freeport to go slow? The GWU's quarrel is with the MDU not with the Freeport Authority who are just going by the book and following the result of the survey carried out by the appropriate authority. Why doesn't the GWU admit that it's just a bad loser; that it has botched the whole thing like it did in the Phoenicia case, the SeaMalta case and the Drydocks case. Is it possible that the GWU doesn't realise that more workers are leaving its fold because it is either incapable or unwilling to look after its members' interests. Has it forgotten the advice it gave last year to the Drydocks workers not to accept the financial package offered by the Authorities? It's a good thing that the workers just ignored this advice. Wasn't this a vote of no confidence in the GWU? So if it can't bring itself to admit publicly this humiliation can't it at least leave the Freeport alone for the sake of the workers who, it is supposed, to protect?
charles Camilleri
Apr 15th 2009, 17:03
And who does the GWU think it will hurt by these actions?
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 15th 2009, 17:03
Is this a question of dejà-vu?
../..
J.Tonna
Apr 15th 2009, 16:55
Tiskanta kemm ihobbu lil-haddiem, lesti li joqtluh bil-guh, basta tghaddi taghhom.
M.Gauci
Apr 15th 2009, 16:48
GWU - you are scrapping the bottom !
But at least this confirms that it is true that the GWU does not have support with the Freeport workers. I mean would the union risk the jobs of the same people, it, states want the GWU to represent them ? I guess no.