Updated: GWU says it let the workers decide for themselves on ST

The GWU said today that it had let the workers at ST Microelectronics decide for themselves whether or not to accept the austerity measures which the company had proposed, in the same way as the Prime Minister often said that sensitive decisions should be taken by the people.

The union, in a reaction to comments made by Dr Gonzi yesterday, said the workers had not turned down any new collective agreement, but only austerity measures which the company wanted to introduce. No collective agreement was under discussion between the union and the company.

The union said the prime minister needed to explain what he meant when he said that he hoped that no one would sabotage what had been agreed between the governemnt and the company.

It was the prime minister and the minister of finance who had undermined everything when they boasted about the investment which the company planned to make in Malta without saying anything about the austerity measures which the company was also planning, to the detriment of workers' conditions, the union said.

It added that in all matters involving ST it always considered the interests of the workers, the company and the country.

PN STATEMENT

The Nationalist Party, in a statement issued earlier in reply to comments by Labour MP Carmelo Abela, said the prime minister had not accused any worker or the GWU of sabotage but had said that he hoped that no one would sabotage what had been achieved.

He had warned that there may be people who unwittingly, may endanger the ST workers' jobs.

The PN said the government had given direct assistance to ST and other companies in view of the international economic downturn, and in so doing it saved 2,500 jobs. It was also backing new investment by ST. All this showed, the PN said, that for the government, jobs, not politics, came first.