Freeport actions lifted, Dalli steps in as mediator
Julia Farrugia
A two-week dispute between the Freeport and the General Workers Union came to an end yesterday after social policy minister John Dalli stepped in as negotiator.
The GWU and the Malta Dockers’ Union were in dispute over trade union recognition at the Freeport.
A meeting of around one and a half hours held at the minister’s office helped in reaching a temporary agreement between the two unions. All industrial actions were lifted until a fresh meeting is held in two days time.
Speaking to MaltaToday, GWU secretary-general Tony Zarb praised the minister’s mediation work. “John Dalli as a go-between was a positive move and we are happy that he offered to help in this issue. We are deeply satisfied with the outcome of the talks. We are also happy that all the workers that were suspended from the Freeport have been called back to work.”
The GWU said the Freeport management had reinstated the three workers, one of them a GWU steward, that had been suspended for obeying GWU directives at the Freeport.
The union said the decision was a step towards “the normalisation of relations between the two sides.”
Two weeks ago, the GWU ordered a go-slow and work to rule at the freeport. But the Freeport took the issue to court and had a €1m garnishee order issued against the union as a guarantee for damages which the freeport said it had suffered. The union is insisting that the industrial actions are covered by trade union immunity.
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