The Gozo ferry service will not be disrupted in the busy carnival weekend as the “go slow” directives were lifted yesterday after the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin and Gozo Channel reached a “win-win” solution.

“We struck a positive agreement and are suspending industrial action,” union president Jesmond Bonello said after a two-hour long meeting with the company management and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.

Earlier in the day, the union met for one and a half hours with Gozo Channel, also in the presence of the minister.

The union had declared industrial action two days ago, complaining that salary arrears owed to employees since 2008 were promised by Gozo Channel but never met.

Mr Bonello explained that both parties had agreed upon a “formula for the arrears”, which the union would explain to its employees.

Apart from ordering employees to go slow, the union instructed the crew not to refill the ship’s tanks with fresh water – crucial for the engine to function.

The directives were heavily criticised – especially on social networking sites – as Gozitans and the thousands looking forward to Nadur carnival were concerned about the ferry service not working.

However, all the ferries worked on a shuttle service yesterday, with virtually no queues in the morning.

Mr Bonello confirmed the service functioned well although there was a slight delay at the Gozo terminal because of the go slow directive.

He thanked all the people, organisations and committees and the General Workers’ Union, which also instructed its members to follow the directives.

“I also would like to express my gratitude to Minister Fenech. Through his help, we managed to reach a solution much faster,” Mr Bonello said.

A spokesman for the Finance Ministry, responsible for the ferry company, said a “positive conclusion” had been reached.

Gozo Channel is adding an extra trip leaving Mġarr today at 2.30 a.m. and departing Ċirkewwa at 3 a.m.