The General Workers Union yesterday insisted the majority of workers at the Freeport have joined its ranks and the management should grant it full recognition without further delay.

Appearing before the industrial tribunal, the GWU general secretary, Tony Zarb, refused to give the precise membership figure – but insisted that the union has a majority.

However, pressed by the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin’s lawyer, Mr Zarb’s deputy, Josef Caruana, said 396 of the 700 workers were members.

The Freeport’s HR manager, Duncan Borg Myatt, said that until the beginning of March the UĦM had 412 members and the GWU just 101. However, a new verification process was to be carried out, he added.

The dispute between the two unions led to an industrial action being taken by the GWU at the Freeport last month.