Minister for Family and Social Solidarity Marie Louise Coleiro Preca has intervened in a dispute between the Housing Authority and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin over workers’ salary package.

The union registered an industrial dispute with the authority after talks over the package stalled.

According to the union, a proposal was tabled on June 30 but the Housing Authority’s management has persistently delayed reaching an agreement.

The union said discussions had been dragging for over two years, with the authority proposing to give its workers “miserable” increments. The Housing Authority was, on Friday, given 48 hours to revise its position, with the union warning it would issue direc-tives by today. With the ultimatum looming, Minister Coleiro Preca convened a meeting yesterday attended by the authority’s administration and UĦM representatives.

Although no final agreement was reached, there was an understanding that discussions would start again. Developments are expected today.

Union sources said the Housing Authority’s administration was insisting that its budget for employee increments had been taken up by housing schemes, adding that these could be affected if no agreement was reached.

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