The European Parliament has rejected by an overwhelming majority a plan put forward by the European Commission to liberalise cargo handling in European ports. A total of 532 were cast against the draft legislation, whereas 120 voted in favour of port liberalisation. A further 25 were abstentions. General Workers Union General (GWU) Secretary Tony Zarb and the Malta Labour Party (MLP) welcomed the European Parliament's decision.
The five Maltese MEPs voted against the bill although the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise urged MEPs to vote in favour in order to increase competition. The European parliament threw out a similar directive on port liberalisation in 2003.
Malta Labour Party (MLP) stated that the vote against liberlisation was a victory for the port workers. The MLP added that the Maltese Labour MEPs worked hard in opposing the implementation of the directive. MEP Joseph Muscat said that the result of the voting confirmed MLP's bid to defend workers.
Dock workers protested against the plan in Strasbourg, clashing with local police. Members of the General Workers Union attended the protest. GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb expressed his satisfaction at the vote, adding that the decision is a significant one in the light of GWU having been the only Maltese trade union that attended the intensive campaign against the European Commission’s directive to liberalise ports. Tony Zarb called on port workers to continue embracing the value of solidarity, because only through solidarity can port workers defend their jobs and working conditions.
The General Secretary also thanked the Maritime and Aviation section within the union, along with the 5 Maltese MEPS who voted against the directive.
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