8 - 14February 2001

GWU Professionals and Services Section authorises work on La Salle

by Franco Aloisio, Steve Chetcuti

The Professionals and Services Section of the General Workers’ Union yesterday informed the Malta Drydocks in a letter that it was authorising its members at the ’yard to carry out work on the American Navy ship USS La Salle.
This section represents over 400 drydocks workers in the clerical, professional and technical grades.
The announcement contrasts sharply with that made by another section of the GWU representing other drydocks workers – the GWU Drydocks section – which left it in the hands of the workers to decide whether to work aboard the ship.
The La Salle is due to enter dock in April. The actual manual work on the vessel will be done by workers represented by the GWU Drydocks Section, headed by Tony Coleiro.
Malta Drydocks chairman John Cassar White yesterday published the letter sent to him by the Professionals and Services Section secretary Karmenu Vella.
In the letter, Mr Vella confirmed that his section will be carrying out work on the vessel. However, Mr Vella said this will have to be done in line with the health and safety regulations at the ’yard.
Mr Vella’s letter reiterated that the GWU was protesting over the fact that the union was not consulted or invited to any meetings in which the La Salle contract was discussed.
Malta Drydocks yesterday stressed on the importance of the $7.7m contract and added that the ’yard’s future depends on such contracts.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said yesterday the contract on the La Salle will go ahead as planned. Speaking to journalists after a social gathering in Msida, Dr Fenech Adami said: “They (the Malta Drydocks) won the contract and there is no reason why it should not be implemented.”
The issue of the work on the La Salle has brought about a wave of controversy.
While the government is insisting the contract does not breach the constitution, parts of the GWU are claiming that advice they had been given by the late Edgar Mizzi, who also served as attorney general, showed that the contract went against the constitution.
The present Attorney General, Anthony Borg Barthet, had advised the government that, contrary to Dr Mizzi’s advice work on American warships did not breach the Constitution.
The GWU Drydocks Section is saying that there is a group of workers who do not want to work on the American ship and the union was committed to defending their rights.
Speaking to The Malta Business Weekly, FOI Director General Edwin Calleja said all parties involved in this contract should have consulted with each other beforehand. He said that when one considers that the dockyard is getting Lm12m in subsidies every year, similar contract are a breath of fresh air for the ’yard.