10 years ago - The Times

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Talks on shipyards collapse

A meeting between the government and the General Workers’ Union over the shipyards’ privatisation failed to yield any agreement, with the union insisting it was not prepared to budge, particularly on its request to have early retirement schemes issued only when the prospective buyer is known.

Union secretary general Tony Zarb said on leaving the hour-long meeting with Finance Minister Tonio Fenech that the government was going back on its pre-electoral promise guaranteeing the workers’ employment.

The union’s delegates representing shipyard workers on Wednesday adopted a resolution demanding, among other things, that the early retirement schemes should only be issued when the prospective buyer is known and that the workers who choose to stay on should have their job guaranteed.

Mr Fenech in reaction insisted that the union’s stand, on delaying the early retirement scheme despite favouring them in principle, could jeopardise the whole process.

An EU directive, now part of Maltese law, makes it clear that when a company is sold the buyer is obliged to respect previous collective agreements.

25 years ago - The Times

Monday, August 2, 1993

The challenge of chairing the Broadcasting Authority

A hot potato should cool down a bit and become easier to handle as the air waves thicken and the situation in homes becomes noisier.

The hot potato is the Broadcasting Authority chairmanship, which was described as such by the new holder of the post, University lecturer Joe Pirotta.

Just as pluralism in the radio field created a self-balancing mechanism, he said in an interview, “the same self-balancing, self-regulating processes as have already taken place on radio might start to operate in the television services”. This could be one side of the picture.

Dr Pirotta was appointed to chair the authority last month.

Young woman killed in traffic accident

Nineteen-year-old Carmen Turner of Mosta died tragically yesterday afternoon, a few metres away from home, when the van in which she was a passenger crashed into an electricity pole in San Pawl tal-Qlejjeb Street, Mosta. The driver, a man, and another young woman who was also a passenger, were rushed to hospital suffering from serious injuries.

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Friday, August 2, 1968

Papal blessing for Maltese people

Joe Azzopardi, winner of the Pope John Prize for Kindness, has returned from Rome where he had a private audience with His Holiness the Pope. Joe Azzopardi was accompanied by Mr Victor Mercieca.

“I bless all the Maltese, particularly the children and the sick who have a special place in my heart,” said His Holiness to Joe Azzopardi. Fr D. Mintoff, OFM, founder of the prize, and Mr Victor Mercieca, committee member, were present during the audience.

Privately-run home for the elderly opened

Another step towards a better life for the elderly was made yesterday with the opening of the first home for the elderly designed, built and managed by the private sector.

Casa Arkati, at Mosta, is fully air-conditioned and equipped with anything the elderly residents would need, including a modern nurse  call system. It has 53 rooms with 94 beds, a chapel, common rooms, occupational therapy and physiotherapy rooms, a multipurpose hall, special baths for the elderly and a trained staff of 45.

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