The Union Haddiema Maghqudin today ordered industrial action by staff and crews at Gozo Channel and warned that the service will be disrupted and possibly stopped.
The action was called as the ferry company geared for one of its busiest weekends - when thousands of Maltese cross to Gozo for the Nadur Carnival.
The dispute stems from disagreement on the financial aspects of a new collective agreement after the old collective agreement expired in 2008.
The union says financial proposals made by the company are unrealistic and do not match productivity and performance.
A spokesman for the union said a whole range of directives have been issued to all categories of workers. The actions come into force on Thursday and will slow the service, since the directives include a 'go slow' for ticketing and other staff.
But the spokesman said the service would be brought to a halt once the ferries run out of water and other essential supplies, and workers refuse to replenish them.
TOURISM ASSOCIATION'S CONCERNS
The Gozo Tourism Association in a statement called on the UHM and Gozo Channel to settle the new collective agreement dispute around the discussion table.
"Without entering into the merits of the dispute, the Gozo Tourism Association, acknowledges the right for an industrial action, however this industrial action is ill-timed, as it risks to literally put in shambles, the busiest weekend of the year, where domestic tourism is concerned," the association said.
"While the industrial action is intended to support workers members of a union, on the other hand, it is jeopardising the jobs of other Gozitan workers, in the tourism industry on Gozo," the GTA said.
"The Gozitan tourism sector looks forward in earnest for the Carnival weekend, as it is a busy period after the long lull of the winter months. Therefore in the circumstances, the Gozo Tourism Association, on behalf of its members, coming from the various tourism segments, calls for common sense to prevail, in order to safe guard the interests of the families depending on income derived through employment with Gozo Channel, as well as other numerous jobs within the Gozitan Tourism Industry."