The General Workers’ Union will issue harsh directives to Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers employees if the management of the government agency continues engaging in what the GWU claims are “union-busting” practices.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, GWU section secretary Jeremy Camilleri said the union had for months faced threats and intimidation by the agency’s management. He also alleged that employees who were members of the union were being treated unfairly.
“The GWU will not accept any form of threats or intimidation. This is not acceptable anywhere, but even more so from a government agency that is supposed to be a model employer,” Mr Camilleri said.
According to the section secretary, another union – the UĦM – was seeking recognition and while all standard procedures were being followed in this regard, the GWU was still facing “hostility and union-busting” from the management of AWAS.
Mr Camilleri insisted the union was not bringing this up because the UĦM was seeking recognition. If the union had an influx of members, then it had every right to seek recognition.
“We comply with the standard procedure for union recognition but we cannot accept that employees are being told to choose between one union and another.”
We are in a situation where influential people, who are also able to issue warnings, are telling employees to choose another union, and when they refuse, they suffer repercussions
According to Mr Camilleri, the union’s concern was that as a result of this union-busting, employees were facing aggression. He also claimed there had been instances where employees lost their job as a result.
“We are in a situation where influential people, who are also able to issue warnings, are telling employees to choose another union and when they refuse, we have noted these have suffered repercussions,” he claimed during the conference held at the GWU headquarters.
Citing one specific case where the union believed employees were not being treated fairly for being GWU members, Mr Camilleri said that an employee who was still on probation was dismissed after following a union directive. “The employee in question was asked to work extra hours with a group of incoming migrants alone.
“She should have had at least someone with her, and so we instructed her not to comply. A few weeks after this directive was issued, her employment was terminated.”
Mr Camilleri said that the employee was accused of sleeping while on duty, something that she denied.
However, following pressure from the union, the employee was re-engaged.
“After a meeting with the employment director she was reinstated, but not without facing a number of repercussions.”
The employee had to work a probation period of three months, over and above the five months she had already worked, he said, adding that the union was not given any information regarding why she had been allowed back.
“We are not ready to accept intimidation and threats,” he said, warning that if the aggression continued, the union would have no option but to issue harsh directives.
Contacted for a reaction to the union’s allegations, AWAS CEO Mario Schembri said he categorically denied the claims that had been made.
The agency is responsible for implementing national legislation and policy on the welfare of refugees, persons given international protection and asylum seekers. It also manages reception facilities, provides information programmes and promotes resettlement schemes.