General Workers Union News

Thousands of striking workers demonstrated in Malta's capital on Friday, Reuters reported, against tax increases and major shipyards were hit by the industrial action. Malta Drydocks, Malta Shipbuilding and Malta Freeport were among companies hit by stoppages after the General Workers' Union called on all workers to go on strike. Union general secretary Tony Zarb told the opposition's Super One radio that the union was very satisfied with the turnout. During the demonstration, attended by thousands in Valletta's main street, Zarb presented a petition signed by 78,600 people to Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami calling on the government to ease financial burdens on workers.

Malta's powerful General Workers' Union was scheduled to meet on Monday, January 15, 2001, on whether a contract between Malta Drydocks and the U.S. Navy violates a constitutional ban on allowing superpowers' ships access to Maltese shipyards. Union president James Pearsall refused to be drawn into the controversy over the contract when questioned by the Maltese media, and said Monday's meeting may not necessarily end with the union taking a stand. The Navy announced the $6 million contract for Malta Drydocks to work on the U.S. Sixth Fleet's flagship La Salle late on Friday. The ship is due in Malta in April. The left-leaning GWU has strong support among Malta Drydocks workers.

Some Maltese dockworkers refuse to carry out a planned $8 million refit of the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship La Salle because this would violate Malta's neutrality. Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami went on television to warn that his government would stop all financial aid to loss-making Malta Drydocks if not enough workers were available to carry out the work. He denied that the contract would violate the island's neutrality. A section of the General Workers' Union which represents the bulk of workers at Malta Drydocks said its delegates had decided not to work on the ship. Fenech Adami said that as a result of that decision the management board of Malta Drydocks had submitted its resignation but the government had refused to accept this.

Malta's biggest trade union directed its members to carry out a refit of a U.S. warship, after some workers complained that the project compromised Malta's neutrality and refused to work on it. "Work on the USS La Salle may be carried out," General Workers' Union (GWU) general secretary Tony Zarb said. The $8 million refit of the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship was thrown into doubt when the GWU's shipyards section, which represents the bulk of workers at Malta Drydocks, said its delegates had decided not to work on the ship. The dockyards' management submitted its resignation, but Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami refused to accept this and warned that his government would stop all financial aid to the loss-making drydocks if not enough workers were available to carry out the work.

Malta last Wednesday appointed the head of Malta Shipbuilding as chairman of Malta Drydocks, pointing to closer cooperation between the two loss-making firms. The Department of Information said former banker John Cassar White, chairman of Malta Shipbuilding for almost two years, would also head Malta Drydocks from February. He will take over from Noel Zarb Adami. The new Malta Drydocks board will include former central bank governor Emanuel Ellul, former Labor minister Joe Micallef Stafrace and Anglu Fenech, former general secretary of the General Workers Union. Workers will elect one director to the board, instead of four previously.