In a statement, the Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) said that it objects the new cargo handling agreement at the Grand Harbour. The GRTU said that the stevedores are being declined from doing their previous jobs with the new agreement.
Thus, the stevedores will be meeting on Tuesday to decide on actions to be taken as from Wednesday, 21st June 2006.
A general meeting was held on Friday at Marquis Scicluna Hall, Trade Fair Grounds between the GRTU and the cargo handlers to discuss this issue.
The GRTU said that the stevedores feel aggrieved that the Government has signed the agreement for cargo handling at the Port without discussions with any of their representatives as he had done with other Port sectors. The stevedores are arguing that although currently their work is being carried out by licensed stevedores, the new agreement monopolises their jobs that will be done by the new contractor. This will lead to loss of jobs.
The GRTU continued to say that the stevedores complained that the Malta Maritime Authority Chairperson Dr. Mark Bonello has aggrieved them when he threatened to remove their special licences considering that with this regard, there is an agreement between the Maltese Government also approved by the European Commission.
Thus, the stevedores said that they will start to take actions as from Wednesday 21st June 2006 should the Government not give them any guarantee that the agreement on the stevedores’ licenses will still be valid and that their jobs will be protected.
See also:
Port cargo handling contract signed
by MaltaMedia News - Jun 11, 2006
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