Members of the Civil Protection Department drew broad agreement from representatives of the political parties this evening when they held the annual general meeting of the Civil Protection Department Staff Association, for which the representatives were invited.

Association President Emanuel Psaila said the department’s staff were calling for the right to have a trade union, although they recognised that they could not strike.

He said they were also seeking the allowances which other civil servants were eligible for, such as shift allowance, as well as specific allowances in consideration of the dangerous nature of their jobs.

They were also calling for insurance cover and better conditions at their places of work, such as better maintained vehicles.

Mr Psaila noted that members of other disciplined forces who joined the Civil Protection Department carried over their previous years of service and could thus retire after a total of 25 years service. However this did not apply for those who joined the department form other occupations. He argued that the years of service should be carried over because one could not conceivably see a 60-year-old fire-fighter going up a ladder. During an ensuing discussion, it was suggested that such people could be transferred to other departments of such ‘front line’ duties.

Those present included Gejtu Vella representing the PN, Michael Falzon, representing the PL and Carmel Cacopardo representing AD.