It-Tlieta, 29 ta’ Novembru 2011.

NEWS RELEASE

IL-MALTA DOCKERS UNION FIL-GRECJA B’APPOGG
GHALL-HADDIEMA TAL-PORT TA’ PIREAUS
Delegazzjoni mill-Malta Dockers Union marret il-Grecja fejn attendiet ghal-dimostrazzjoni ta’ protesta kontra l-kumpanija ciniza Cosco li naqqset drastikament l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xoghol u d-dhul finanzjarju tal-haddiema tax-xatt fil-port ta’ Pireaus u qed thaddem haddiema kazwali li mhumiex haddiema registrati tal-port u membri fil-Unions.

Il-Gvern Grieg kien biegh it-terminals tal-port ta’ Pireaus lil kumpanija Cosco wara li faqqet il-krizi finanzjarja fil-Grecja fejn il-pagi tal-haddiema gew imnaqqsa bejn 30 u 35 fil-mija. Dan minbarra zieda u mpozizzjoni ta’ taxxi godda li kkawzaw tbatija kbira fuq il-poplu tal-Grecja.

Sa minn meta l-Cosco dahlet fit-tmexxija tal-port ta’ Pireaus, qed jinghataw ix-xoghol qed jinghata biss lil haddiema li mhumiex membri fi Trade Unions. Il-kumpanija naqqset ukoll is-salarji tal-haddiema u bdiet thaddem sistema ta’ haddiema kazwali li mhumiex haddiema registrati tax-xatt, fejn dawn jigu msejjha ghax-xoghol skont il-volum tax-xoghol u skont kemm jidhlu vapuri fil-port. B’din is-sistema, l-haddiema ma jkunux jafu kemm u meta se jahdmu u kemm se jkun is-salarju taghhom li diga naqas drastikament.

L-International Dockworkers Council (IDC), li maghha hija affiljata l-Malta Dockers Union, ipprotestat bil-qawwa kollha ghal dan l-agir tal-Cosco kemm mal-Gvern Grieg kif ukoll mal-Kummissjoni Ewropeja.

Wara d-dimostrazzjoni ta’ protesta, delegazzjoni mill-IDC, inkluzi r-rapprezentanti tal-MDU, kellhom laqgha mal-President tal-Awtorita’ tal-Port kif ukoll mal-ministru tal-affarijiet marittimi li ghadu kemm inhatar ministru.

Il-ministru weighed lid-delegazzjoni tal-IDC li se johloq makkinarju gdid ta’ djalogu bejn l-awtoritajiet koncernati u l-Unions kif ukoll li se jaghmel hiltu biex issir laqgha urgent mal-kumpanija ciniza Cosco.

Il-Malta Dockers Union se tibqa’ taghti l-appogg shih taghha lill-haddiema tax-xatt fil-Grecja b’kull mezz sakemm Cosco taghti lura d-drittijiet li hadet lill-haddiema u tiggarantilhom dhul finanzjarju dicenti.

F’Gunju tal-2007, il-Malta Dockers Union lahqet ftehim mal-Gvern Malti rigward ir-riforma fil-portijiet fejn gie garantit ix-xoghol ghall-haddiema kollha licenzjati tax-xatt kif ukoll titjib sostanzjali fil-dhul finanzjarju taghhom. Bis-sahha ta’ dak il-ftehim, mat-370 haddiem licenzjat tax-xatt zdiedu 75 impjieg gdid ta’ haddiema prospettivi u awziljari tax-xatt kif ukoll il-fuq minn 200 impjieg ta’ xufiera part-time.

ILWU SUPPORT MOTION

IDC European Zone Assembly

The IDC European Zone Assembly, meeting in Helsingborg (Sweden), with the presence of representatives from the ports of Sweden, Denmark, France, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus at the proposal of the General Coordinator, Antolin Goya, adopted unanimously the following resolution:

1. – The Assembly endorsed the union actions taken by the ILWU to defend the professionalism of port workers and against the demands of companies seeking to operate non-union port terminals.

2 .- The Assembly vehemently condemns the arrest of the ILWU leader, Robert Mc Ellrath, while defending the rights of the ILWU brothers and sisters and demands that the authorities do not to criminalize these fair trade union activities. We demand an end to the police prosecution and an end to the detention of union members.

3. – IDC-Europe proclaims their solidarity and full support with the ILWU´s fight and stands ready to offer any support deemed necessary, to reach our common objectives.

(Aldo Azzopardi attended the IDC European Zone Assembly meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden on behalf of the Malta Dockers Union.)

Helsingborg, 21 September, 2011

Ftehim Kollettiv gdid ghall-impjegati tat-Tug Malta.

Il-Malta Dockers Union u l-Kumpanija Tug Malta iffirmaw Ftehim Kollettiv gdid li permezz tieghu l-haddiema se jgawdu minn zidiet fil-pagi u minn beneficcji ohra.

Il-Ftehim huwa retroattiv b’sehh mill-1 ta’ Jannar 2010 ghall-perjodu ta’ ghaxar snin sa Dicembru 2019. Fil-Ftehim hemm provdut zieda fis-salarji kull sena kif ukoll zieda fl-allowances li jizdiedu kull tliet snin skont ir-Retail Price Index.

Il-Ftehim gie approvat mill-maggoranza tal-haddiema waqt laqgha generali straordinarja u wara gie ffirmat fl-ufficcju tat-Tug Malta fil-Furjana.

Ghall-kumpanija Tug Malta iffirmaw ic-Chairman John Sullivan u ic-Chief Executive Officer Mario Mizzi. Ghall-Malta Dockers Union iffirmaw il-President Joe Saliba, is-Segretarju Clinton Sammut flimkien ma’ Raymond Azzopardi, Shop Steward tal-Masters, Clinton Galea, Shop Steward tal-Inginiera u Lawrence Grech, Shop Steward tal-bahrin.

Min-naha tal-Union il-ftehim gie negozjat minn Karmenu Vella, Konsulent fir-Relazzjonijiet Industrijali tal-Malta Dockers Union.

Ufficcju Informazzjoni

Malta Dockers Union

Aldo Azzopardi will be representing The Malta Dockers Union at the IDC European Zone Assembly to be held in Sweden on the 21 and 22 September 2011

The trade unions representing European port workers affiliated into the IDC

CONSIDER that the so-called financial crisis is a product of the capitalist economic model, characterised by the depletion of natural resources, financial speculation and the unlimited and uncontrolled appropriation of economic benefits for the few.

CONSIDER that the present economic situation, which is seriously affecting workers worldwide, is based on decisions which promote precarious employment, the impoverishment of large sectors of society and the concentration of the capacity of production in a few economic groups.

CONSIDER that the political representatives elected by the citizens are not dealing with the crisis through solidarity measures to reinforce the Welfare State institutions. On the contrary, they are bowing to the directives of the speculative economic groups who, even during the crisis, are becoming richer whilst speculating against the impoverished labour conditions and life standards of the poorest sections of society.

NOTE that the liberal economic and political forces advocating for the privatisation of all sectors of production and the sale of public assets as a means of financing the debt of the countries is, in fact, increasing to the same global financial speculation.

NOTE that public services, essential to the Welfare State in order to promote equal rights for all citizens, are under a furious attack through the questioning of their value, efficiency and, in any case, denying them adequate funding.

CONDEMN that the above described situation is reaching the transport sector and, more specifically, the port industry and its facilities as a strategic sector for international trade. National governments – surrendered to speculators, are agreeing to the sale of port infrastructure, built with public funds, to international economic groups.

COMPROMISE to work in the defence of the public interest and port facilities in Europe, guarantee the arrival and dispatch of goods to and from all origins, supply the products to all citizens under conditions of equality, professionalism, competitiveness and productivity.

DEMAND from the European public authorities that the port system:

• Guarantees the professional activity of workers

• Applies the Health and Safety measures

• Respects the right to collective bargaining

• Promotes decent working conditions, and

• Engages into maintaining the employment of professional workers in all European port facilities and for all operations in their respective countries.

CALL AND JOIN all sectors and social, political, labour, cultural, trade union and citizen movements, to address the principles and objectives of the international speculators, calling for a day of action on [DATE] in the European port sector in defence of the aforementioned principles and objectives – In particular, to support our Brothers and Sisters in Greece.

Joe Saliba and Aldo Azzopardi represented the Malta Dockers Union at the Paris meeting.

Fil-Prim’ Awla tal-Qorti Civili

Rikors Guramentat Numru: 64/08 AL

Virtu Ferries Limited [C 11553]

vs

Il-Ministru ghall-Kompetittivita’ u Komunikazzjoni, u l-Awtorita’ Marittima ta’ Malta u b’digriet tat-13 ta’ Marzu 2008 gew kjamati fil-kawza l-Onorevoli Prim Ministru u l-Avukat Generali

Rikors tal-Malta Dockers’ Union [Reg. Number 287]

Tesponi bir-rispett:

Illi l-esponenti tirrapprezenta l-maggoranza assoluta tal-haddiema licenzjati tax-xatt u tiddefendi l-interessi taghhom.

Illi fir-rikors guramentat taghha, is-socjeta’ Virtu Ferries Limited talbet lil din l-Onorabbli Qorti sabiex tiddikjara illi Virtu Ferries Limited mhiex, taht ir-Regolamenti dwar il-Haddiema tal-Port kif emendati mill-AL 226 ta’ l-2007, obbligata li tqabbad lill-haddiema tax-xatt u/jew lill-Valletta Gateway Terminals Limited [jew operator iehor] fir-rigward ta’ taghbijiet akkumpanjati ta’ ‘l fuq minn ghaxar tunnellati; alternattivament tiddikjara a) illi Regolamenti dwar il-Haddiema tal-Port kif emendati mill-AL 226 ta’ l-2007 huma, in kwantu dawn mhumiex konformi mat-Trattat tal-Komunita’ Ewropea, inapplikabbli; u b) illi l-imposizzjoni tat-tariffi in kwistjoni mill-Valletta Gateway Terminals Limited (jew operator iehor) ma jistghux, in kwantu dawn mhumiex konformi mat-Trattat tal-Komunita’ Ewropea, jigu mposti.

Illi kif qed jigi premess fir-rikors promotur u kif jirrizulta wkoll mil-lista tax-xhieda tas-socjeta’ attrici, din il-kawza tolqot l-interessi tal-haddiema tax-xatt stante li din tirrigwarda l-applikazzjoni tar-Regolamenti dwar il-Haddiema tal-Port kif emendati mill-AV 226 ta’ l-2007, ix-xoghol taghhom u l-hlasijiet dovuti lilhom.

Ghaldaqstant l-esponenti titlob bir-rispett lil din l-Onorabbli Qorti sabiex tawtorizzaha tintervjeni f’din il-kawza u dan taht kull provvediment xieraq u opportun li joghgobha taghti din l-Onorabbli Qorti.

Avukat George Abela

Konsulent Legali tal-MDU

Din l-iskema hija intiza biex tghin finanzjarjament lil dawk il-haddiema li jkunu korrew fuq xoghol u jdumu aktar minn sitt xhur bl-injury leave.

Il-Union qed tofri facilita’ ta’ self minghajr imghax sa massimu ta’ tnax il-elf euro (€12,000) li jithallsu mill-Union lill-haddiem koncernat f’pagamenti ta’ elf euro (€1000) fix-xahar ghal sena jew kif jigi miftiehem ma’ l-individwu.

Dawn il-flus jigu mhallsa lura mill-haddiema wara li jkunu dahlu ghax-xoghol mill-injury leave b’pagamenti ta’ hames mitt euro (€500) fix-xahar ghal sentejn.

Dan ifisser li dawk il-haddiema li tmisshom l-isfortuna li jkorru fuq il-post ix-xoghol, minbarra l-benefficcji prezenti li jircievu minghand l-insurance u minghand id-Dipartiment tas-Sigurta’ Socjali, issa jistghu jibbenefikaw ukoll minn din l-offerta’ tal-Union li tassigura dhul finanzjarju stabbli sakemm idumu barra mix-xoghol.

Dawk il-haddiema li jridu jibbenefikaw minn din l-iskema huma mitluba biex japplikaw fl-Ufficcju tal-Malta Dockers Union il-Marsa. L-implimentazzjoni ta’ din l-iskema hija fid-deskrizzjoni assoluta tal-Union u kull haddiem li jibbenefika minn din l-iskema jrid jintrabat b’kuntratt legali mal-Malta Dockers Union.

Joe Saliba

President

Twegiba lill-Orizzont

12 ta’ Awwissu 2008

Nirreferi ghall-artiklu miktub mis-Sur Charles Agius, Segretarju tat-Taqsima Marittima u Avjazzjoni tal-GWU li gie ppubblikat fil-gurnal “L-Orizzont” ta’ nhar it-Tnejn 11 ta’ Awwissu 2008 taht it-titlu “Ifred u Saltan”.

Matul dawn l-ahhar gimghat, is-Sur Charles Agius ghamel hafna allegazzjonijiet infondati fil-konfront tal-ufficjali tal-Malta Dockers Union f’diversi ittri li baghat lill-haddiema tax-xatt u f’artikli li kiteb fil-gurnal tieghek.

Fl-attentati tieghu biex jipprova joskura u jimmina l-operat tal-ufficjali tal-MDU, fl-artiklu tieghu “Ifred u Saltan”, is-Sur Agius kompla jixhet it-tajn u johloq d-dubji meta allega illi “xi wħud mill-ħaddiema ġew infurmati b’dak li kien se jseħħ bir-riforma tal-port u li sa dakinhar kien għadu mistur. Billi dawn ix-xi wħud mill-ħaddiema kellhom aċċess għal dik l-informazzjoni irtiraw mix-xogħol qabel iż-żmien sabiex posthom jieħduh uliedhom li kellhom dritt jirtu l-post tax-xogol ta’ missierhom, u b’hekk jibbenefikaw mit-tibdil li kien se jsir”.

Fl-artiklu tieghu, s-Segretarju tal-GWU kompla jallega illi “dan fisser li dawk il-ħaddiema tax-Xatt li ma ngħatawx l-informazzjoni ġew meqjusin fi klassi inferjuri u huma destinati li jsofru mill-aġir irresponsabbli ta’ min kien wara l-manuvra li wħud mill-ħaddiema jiġu nfurmati u oħrajn le”.

Qieghed nisfida lis-Sur Charles Agius biex isemmi b’ismu jew b’isimhom lil dawk li skond hu ghaddew xi informazzjoni lil xi haddiema “meta kollox kien ghadu mistur” biex dawn “setghu jibbenefikaw mit-tibdil li kien se jsir”. Nisfida ukoll lis-Sur Agius biex jindika l-persuna li skond hu “kien wara l-manuvra li whud mill-haddiema jigu nfurmati u ohrajn le”

Nistenna li jekk is-Sur Agius huwa persuna serja u kredibbli ghandu jkun specifiku u jindika b’isimhom lil persuni li rrefera ghalihom fl-artiklu tieghu “Ifred u Saltan”.

TAGHMEL AKTAR HSARA LILL-HADDIEMA TAX-XATT U LILL-PAJJIZNA

Il-kampanja negattiva u distruttiva li mbarkaw fuqha it-tmexxija tal-GWU fil-konfront tal-Malta Dockers Union u tal-ufficjali taghha biex forsi jirnexxilhom jakkwistaw lura lill-haddiema tax-xatt, qabzet kull limitu ta’ dicenza u etika trejdunjonistika.

Matul dawn l-ahhar granet, il-GWU, bi ksur tal-att dwar id-data protection, uzat informazzjoni personali ta’ haddiema tax-xatt li mhux suppost li ghadha fil-pussess taghha, fejn baghtet ittri personalizzati fir-residenzi privati tal-haddiema kollha tax-xatt. Ma’ dawn l-ittri, li ntbaghtu bil-posta, kien hemm ukoll formoli tas-shubija fil-GWU u self addressed envelopes bil-pustagg imhallas. Dan l-agir min-naha tal-GWU huwa wkoll bi ksur tal-etika trejdunjonistika fejn ma jistax isir poaching fuq membri ta’ union ohra specjalment bil-mod persistenti u qarrieqi kif qed isir mill-GWU fuq il-maggoranza tal-haddiema tax-xatt li huma membri tal-Malta Dockers Union.

Il-Malta Dockers Union hija sodisfatta li minkejja l-irregolaritajiet kollha mwettqa mill-GWU fil-konfront tal-membri tal-MDU kif ukoll t-tixrid ta’ informazzjoni falza u d-dubji li l-GWU qed tipprova tohloq fuq l-operat tal-MDU, il-GWU mhux jirnexxilha tqarraq bil-haddiema tax-xatt u kull attentat min-naha taghha biex terga’ tiehu lura l-maggoranza tal-haddiema qed ifalli bil-kbir.

Minkejja dan, il-MDU hija konxja u preokkupata li din il-kampanja ta’ qerq u gideb mill-GWU, qed tikkawza hsara, tohloq firda u tipprovoka incidenti serji bejn il-haddiema fuq il-post tax-xoghol taghhom. Dan minbarra li din il-kampanja negattiva qed tipperikola l-impjieg ta’ 370 haddiem licenzjat tax-xatt u ta’ aktar minn 186 haddiema ohra prospettivi u awziljari li fil-prezent qed jahdmu bhala tugmaster drivers fuq it-terminals tal-Malta Freeport bis-sahha tal-Ftehim tar-Riforma fil-Port li gie iffirmat bejn il-Gvern u l-MDU fit-30 ta’ Gunju tas-sena l-ohra.

Il-kampanja distruttiva tal-GWU qed tibghat ukoll mesagg hazin u falz ta’ konfuzjoni u skuntettizza inezistenti fost il-haddiema tax-xatt kemm lill-awtoritajiet Maltin kif ukoll lill-Management tal-Malta Freeport li fil-prezent qed jinnegozja r-revizjoni tal-Ftehim Kollettiv mal-Malta Dockers Union. Dawn il-messaggi negattivi min-naha tal-GWU jistghu jirrizultaw f’decizjonijiet drastici min-naha tal-awtoritajiet Maltin u minn operaturi barranin li jkunu ta’ detriment ghall-haddiema kollha tax-xatt u ghall-pajjiz kollu. L-MDU tfakkar li fil-prezent qed isir investiment qawwi mis-CMA / CGM fuq it-terminals tal-Malta Freeport minkejja l-kompettizzjoni harxa li qed jiffaccjaw l-operaturi tat-terminals madwar id-dinja partikularment fl-Ewropa. Dan l-investiment se jkompli jzid ix-xoghol, l-impjiegi u d-dhul finanzjarju lill-haddiema kollha tax-xatt.

Fid-dawl ta’ dan kollu u fl-interess tal-haddiema kollha tax-xatt u ta’ pajjizna, il-Malta Dockers Union tappella lill-GWU biex turi sens ta’ responsabbilta’ u maturita’ fil-konfront tal-haddiema kollha tax-xatt u ta’ pajjizna u minnufih twaqqaf il-kampanja negattiva u distruttiva li mbarkat fuqha matul il-gimghat li ghaddew.

UFFICCJU INFORMAZZJONI

Malta Dockers union

Nirreferi ghar-rapport li gie ippubblikat fil-gurnal “L-Orizzont” ta’ nhar it-Tlieta 15 ta’ Lulju 2008 taht it-titlu “Tkompli l-Intimidazzjoni fuq Shop Steward tal-GWU”.

Il-Malta Dockers Union tichad bil-qawwa kollha li qedgha tintimida jew tinstiga biex jittiehdu passi kriminali kontra s-Shop Steward tal-GWU.

Il-kitba imsemmija fir-rapport tal-gurnal tieghek hija kopja ta’ news release mahruga mill-Malta Dockers Union  li ntbaghtet lill-media kollha, inkluz lil “L-Orizzont” fl-10 ta’ Lulju 2008. Kull news release li tohrog l-MDU tigi mwahhla fin-notice boards kollha uzati mill-Union kemm fil-Malta Freeport kif ukoll f’postijiet ohra tax-xoghol fejn jahdmu il-haddiema tax-xatt.

Kontra dak li gie rapurtat mill-gurnal tieghek, imkien f’din in-news release ma hemm xi instigazzjoni biex jittiehdu xi passi kriminali kontra s-Shop Steward tal-GWU.

F’din in-news release gie rapurtat biss il-fatt illi Joe Saliba, President tal-Malta Dockers Union, talab lill-pulizija biex jibdew proceduri kriminali kontra Mario Bondin, membru tal-Kumitat Ezekuttiv tat-Taqsima Marittima u Avjazzjoni tal-GWU u Shop Steward tal-haddiema tax-xatt li huma membri fil-GWU.

Il-President tal-MDU talab lill-pulizija biex jakkuzaw lil Mario Bondin talli fit-30 ta’ Gunju 2008, ghall-hatba tad-9.00 ta’ filghodu u fil-granet u fil-gimghat ta’ qabel, f’diversi postijiet u f’diversi hinijiet fil-gzejjer Maltin, bil-hsieb li jtellef jew inaqqas il-gieh ta’ Joe Saliba, wegghu bi kliem, b’gesti, jew b’xi mod iehor bi ksur tal-Ligijiet ta’ Malta.

Dan huwa il-kontenut kollu li gie miktub fin-news release li kopja taghha giet imwahhla fin-notice boards uzati mill-Malta Dockers Union inkluza fin-notice board tal-Malta Freeport.

Joe Saliba
President
Malta Dockers Union