General Workers Union general secretary Tony Zarb today accused the Freeport management of putting spokes in the wheels to prevent the union from gaining recognition.

Union recognition at the Freeport is currently in front of an industrial tribunal.

Addressing some 150 workers outside the gates of the Freeport terminal, Mr Zarb said that his union was determined to bring the trade union dispute to an end soon and appealed the industrial tribunal to expedite the hearing of the case.

He said that despite the collaboration between the Union Haddiema Maghqudin and the management against the GWU, the union was more than convinced that it has the majority of Freeport workers on its books.

He alleged that workers might be exposed to dangerous machinery at their workplace and said that those who decided not to use it would be defended by the union.

In a reaction, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin said that recognition was not obtained at the snap of a finger.

The union said it had been insisting for the verification process to be made by the Industrial Relations Department and not by third parties because this was the procedure that had always been used and it was unacceptable for the GWU to dictate new procedures.