2 - 8 December 1999

GWU ends industrial action at Enemalta, but GRTU threatens trouble

by Franco Aloisio

The dispute between Enemalta and the General Workers' Union ended yesterday after two weeks of industrial action which threatened to bring the country to a standstill due to a shortage of fuel.

However the General Retailers and Traders Union said that it will be calling for industrial action against Enemalta next week, unless the corporation accepts an increase in the commission given to petrol station owners. Following a meeting held yesterday between the GWU, the government, Enemalta and MIMCOL representatives, the corporation's chairman Robert Ghirlando said he agreed with the wage increases in the new collective agreement as proposed by the union.

This immediately meant that all industrial actions at Enemalta were lifted. Enemalta, on the other hand, ordered the lifting on the overtime ban on the workers.

Until yesterday, the GWU actions were mainly affecting the supplies of fuel and various fuel ships could not unload petrol and diesel. The corporation had said that it had enough supplies for the coming weeks, although certain petrol stations had their supplies depleted through a sudden increased demand.

Meanwhile, the GRTU said yesterday that it has postponed its industrial action against Enemalta due to the bad weather conditions and the fuel shortages resulting from the GWU action. However the director general of the GRTU Vince Farrugia said that a meeting for all petrol station owners will be held next Monday and industrial action will be announced if its demands are not met.

The GRTU is claiming that Enemalta should approve an increase in the commission for petrol station owners, following increases in the price of fuel over the last years. The latest increase was a 15 per cent VAT rate imposed on petrol and diesel in the last budget.

The GRTU is proposing that an independent auditor, who enjoys the trust of Enemalta and the GRTU, should verify whether these claims are justified. Minister for Economic Services Josef Bonnici is acting as mediator in this dispute.