Dockers' Union grows

V.Muscat

Jul 9th 2009, 10:09

@ Alfred Cassar there are Port workers who used to work 24 hours! if you don't know, I know it sounds mad but this is reality!
There are a lot of portworkers who do 16 hours! Nghid ghalija qatt ma nasal naghmel 16 hours straight izda ftit huma bhali. Tahseb li llum il-gurnata Portworker ghadu diehel u jiflah ghax xoghol ma jaghmilhomx 8 hours zejda? bi 3 breaks? Tahseb li xi hadd ghadu jibda d-dinja tax-xoghol ha jilef 80 euro ta 8 hours?? Anke portworkers nisa jaghmluhom ahseb u ara ragel!

V.Muscat

Jul 9th 2009, 07:36

1 When i said 16 hours i meant 16 hours a day!
2 Safety matters my foot so how can you explain that if you are going to change shift and you finish on a night shift and begin the other forthnight on a morning shift , that comes 16 hours!!!!! safety doesn't matters!! The only 16 hours you cannot work are overtime! Tghid kont wiehed minn dawk meta fredu sant waqqaf l-overtime gergirt int bhali??
3 No i'm not a GWU member!
4 I never mentioned automation, i was talking about self handling! and self handling means that when a vessel enters the Malta freeport, the crew that comes with the vessel will do the latching instead of us port workers!

charles zammit

Jul 8th 2009, 23:58

martinelli people have been hurt because they couldnt afford exorbitant utility bills, they couldnt withstand unkept promises ask the teachers the nurses the drydocks workers, go employees environmentalists, hunters the list seems to be endless and above all they were attracted to the new leadership and new leader of the pl and where willing to be part of a new happening a movement of progressive and moderate people.. and as for who is a dupe i do not like to stoop so low like you did and attack you personally. i let other people be the judges.

Joe Cassar

Jul 8th 2009, 23:43

Well now, if the MDU is so confident it has such a large majority, it shouldn't be afraid of a secret ballot anymore.

How about it, MDU? How about a secret ballot to settle the matter once and for all?

Alfred Cassar

Jul 8th 2009, 21:44

Are you serious Muscat, working 16 hours? (I presume you meant per day). Are you mad or something?

V.Mucsat

Jul 8th 2009, 19:19

Mr. Martinelli i was talking about self handling not automation and self handling means that when a vessel enters the freeport the workers that come with the vessel do the latching not maltese port workers!

J Martinelli

Jul 8th 2009, 17:38

@ v muscat

"News No port worker can work 16 hours anymore! .............. Why???"

Is it 16 hours per day, week or month? Don't just throw a number thinking you can pull wool over our eyes.

If what you say refers to 16 hours a day, remember safety issues. No worker, especially heavy equipment handlers are permitted to work 16 hours in a 24 hour period.

This has nothing to do with full-time or part-time workers. If automation is adopted, it is to stay as competitive and efficient as other similar operations around the Mediterranean thus preserving jobs.

You sound like you are one of the remaining few who stubbornly cling to a Union which will not, and never did, represent you.

V.Muscat

Jul 8th 2009, 17:08

News No port worker can work 16 hours anymore! .............. Why??? so the partimers (A+1 company) employed can work more!! Well done your stadegy is working. Taf x'jonqos issa is-self handling u jisspicca l-latching ukoll!!

Peter Sacco

Jul 8th 2009, 16:52

@ Jesmond Zammit

The target is hypocrisy and the pack of lies pronounced by those who wanted to steal the recognition at the Freeport.

Its the present Central Administration who destroyed the GWU and who outcasted the best officials and Union secretaries that the Union ever had.

Its those people like yourself who destroyed the GWU by mixing the 6th. June with trade unionism.

Now its too late in the day dear Mr. Zammit. The GWU lost its credibility once and for all.

J Martinelli

Jul 8th 2009, 16:46

@ jesmond zammit

The GWU presents itself as a target because of its incessant stance against any government proposal or legislation.

Where was the GWU when the Socialists ruled the roost? They were silenced by their own preferred party and did nothing during strikes, violence and the outright denial of free speech and basic human rights. You think for one minute that those experiencing those days will ever forget the abuse by the MLP and GWU's inaction?

How is it that the GWU wakes up every time there is a Nationalist government and went to sleep when the MLP governed?

Why did the GWU claim a majority of dock workers, when in fact, it had the smallest minority? Just to create mischief and cost Freeport thousands of dollars in lost business? And now, with all the cheek, it is suing Freeport for not paying suspended workers? Those workers had better get the Dockers' Union to intercede for them since Freeport has no business recognizing the GWU. Can't wait for the Court's decision.

By the way, when the DU President resigned, why did not someone else from the GWU side contest the position? Because they knew they would lose handily!

jesmond zammit

Jul 8th 2009, 16:12

the target is gwu ....
min dejjem riedu jeqirduha.
il holqien tal uhm ma kienetx bizzejjed biex ifarrku l union , imbghad ghalqu t tarzna u hasbu li il gwu se taghlaq,,imma gara l oppost ,issa l haddiema tax xatt imiss ...wara li l gwu tnaddfet ,issahhet u nfethu l kanuni kontrijha regghu . dik jonqsu l gvern ta gonzi tispicca l gwu. u ma jifdallu l ebda ostaklu ... more people are seeing the light ,my foot. we saw the light on 6 th june.

J Martinelli

Jul 8th 2009, 15:32

@ Charles Zammit

It's because 55% were duped by LP doom and gloom and promises of using their magic wand to reduce electricity prices but when the election was over Joseph made it clear that IF ever elected he could not guarantee the price of electricity.

Consider yourself as one of the dupes making up the 55%.

Joseph Scicluna

Jul 8th 2009, 15:30

@charles zammit
"how could one explain a staggering landslide of 55% at the recent polls." easy, from a minority turnout.

Gianninu Saliba

Jul 8th 2009, 15:29

Dear Charles Zammit, the super minority government was Dom Mintoff's one of 1981 when the electorate told him point blank: "We want Dr. Fenech Adami to be Prime Minister". Mind you Mintoff made up for his mistake of hanging on to power, so much so Alfred Sant and most of the socialists are still angry at him. Please Charles, do not think that I am trying to insult Mintoff. It's thanks to him that we became members of the EU, that we changed our currency to the Euro and most importantly that we have had a Nationalist Government ever since he clashed with Alfred. Mind you, (now I am rubbing it in) he did the same thing to Paul Boffa in 1949 resulting in, first Nerik and then Giorgio becoming Prime Ministers.

V Muscat

Jul 8th 2009, 15:11

If you can't beat them join them! To betray, you must first belong!!!

Franco Xuereb

Jul 8th 2009, 15:03

How about another secret ballot signed by a Professor? Any comment by Mr. Jeremy Camillleri ? The Maltese public deserves an explanation from Tony Zarb after the lot of noise by the GWU about having majority representattion at the Freeport. And what about the British Trade Unionist Mr. Alec Mc Fadden who was brought to Malta by Mr. Michael Parnis to close the Maltese Ports to put pressure on Freeport to give sole recognition to the GWU ? I look forward for an explanation from Mr. Zarb and his Administartion quartet.

charles zammit

Jul 8th 2009, 14:19

with such high electricity bills around no wonder that everyone is seeing the light. either that or enemalta is bleeding us dry. sure enough if this statement wasnt correct how could one explain a staggering landslide of 55% at the recent polls. thats where we should have a head count and get rid of this super minority government.

J Martinelli

Jul 8th 2009, 13:44

More and more people are seeing the light.

It is about time that GWU's membership register is examined in order to reveal the true number of paying members which seems to continue to shrink regularly.

Now we read that the GWU is suing Freeport for not paying wages to suspended workers who honoured the 'illegal strike' ordered, when Union majority representation was claimed by GWU !

I can't wait for an explanation on l-Orizzont!

effie carbonaro

Jul 8th 2009, 12:47

could mr tony zarb tell us how come he said that he had the majority of port workers on he union books?.a personal comment from his side on this news wil be very much appreciated by all.

Charles Mizzi

Jul 8th 2009, 12:41

Another blow to Gejtu Mercieca and Co. Now only ten licenced port workers are not MDU members. And Mr. Mercieca claimed recognition at the Freeport ! GWU credibilitly is less than ZERO now.