Offers of talks in Freeport, GWU dispute

The Malta Freeport and the General Workers' Union have both signalled a willingness to enter discussions over union recognition, which has led to industrial action, as long the other side withdraws its action in the dispute.

Speaking in Birkirkara yesterday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the Freeport's management was prepared to enter talks if the GWU lifted its industrial action that was threatening jobs and the economy.

Asked for his reaction, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said that although he had not yet received any official request, he was willing to hold discussions if the Freeport withdrew the €1 million garnishee order issued against the union and reinstated the suspended workers.

"It is important that any discussions take place in freedom," Mr Zarb said.

Dr Gonzi said discussions would be aimed at reaching an agreement to the benefit of Freeport workers, whose jobs were at stake because of the union directives and for the good of the country in the light of the global financial climate, he said.

The GWU's go-slow directives were "irresponsible" as they endangered jobs, Dr Gonzi said.

"I can't understand how the union, that is meant to be representing the interests of workers in Malta and Gozo, is not working closely with the government to fight the challenges to employment brought about by the economic crisis," he said.

The GWU's industrial action is over the fact that the Freeport granted recognition to the Malta Dockers' Union following a verification of the latter's majority support among workers by the Director of Industrial Relations. The GWU refused to accept the outcome of the exercise, insisting that a confidential poll of port workers, which it had commissioned, gave it a 53 per cent support.

The action provoked the Freeport into requesting a €1 million garnishee order against the GWU which was upheld by the courts. The GWU appealed this decision and requested that the Freeport be ordered to deposit €8 million as a guarantee for damages it was suffering as a result of the garnishee order. The decision is still pending.

The GWU has entered into talks with a number of foreign trade unions on boycotting the CMA CGM - the owners of Malta Freeport - in several foreign ports.

Another bone of contention is the suspension of three Freeport workers, which the union claims is a result of their obeying industrial action but the company says is because they breached its rules.

Dr Gonzi said the boycott threat was unacceptable especially since this was an issue between two unions - the Freeport had nothing to do with it.

He pointed to several past instances, ranging from 2002 to February this year, when the GWU had respected the decisions of the Director of Industrial Relations on issues of union recognition.

Yet, this time, the union was not abiding by the director's decision. The Freeport management was not to blame for this, Dr Gonzi stressed.

Dr Gonzi criticised the manner in which the union's newspaper L-Orizzont had published the names and addresses of the Freeport management. "This is not right."

Speaking during the same PN activity, MEP candidate Vince Farrugia said he believed the GWU had raised the issue of union recognition "to spite (President) George Abela".

Dr Abela had been the union's legal consultant but fell out after port workers appointed him as their legal representative in discussions with the government about the port reform.