Trade unions clash over representation of telecommunications workers

A dispute between Malta’s two general trade unions arose over the implementation of the terms of a new collective agreement signed by the General Workers’ Union and the telecommunications provider GO. The agreement introduces new measures aimed at increasing the company’s efficiency. However, several workers felt that they were suffering from impoverished working conditions and therefore joined the Union of United Workers. This resulted in a dispute between the two unions.

Since the full privatisation of Malta’s leading telecommunications provider, the Maltacom Group, the company has been undergoing a restructuring exercise and changed its name to GO. In June 2007, the Technology, Electronics and Communication Section of the General Workers’ Union (GWU), as the trade union representing GO workers, signed a new collective agreement with the company’s management.

The new agreement, covering a period of three years, makes arrangements for clerical and industrial workers to benefit from new initiatives aimed at enhancing the company’s efficiency. The agreement also provides for new work practices that maintain GO’s competitiveness in the telecommunications sector. Both signatories of the agreement – GWU and GO’s management –insisted that their aim is to continue to protect workers’ rights as well as the best interests of the company.

Reason for trade union dispute

In January 2007, the Union of United Workers (Union Haddiema Maghqudin, UHM) was informed that GO had started implementing its restructuring process, by asking some employees to reapply for posts that they already occupied. The union stated that it disagreed with the way the company’s management implemented the restructuring and claimed that workers were not being treated fairly. Several workers of GO contacted the Section Secretary of the Public Entities Section of UHM, Jesmond Bonello, to raise issues about their new working conditions, which they considered as unfavourable. As a result, a significant number of these workers decided to join UHM.

According to GWU, UHM is using the company’s redeployment exercise to poach its members. The terms of the restructuring exercise had been agreed between GWU and GO’s management, and the union explained that workers were given the opportunity to choose where they wished to work as part of the restructuring process. Furthermore, GWU underlined that the company’s management had agreed not to dismiss any workers in the process, nor to reduce workers’ salaries (MT0703019I). The trade union officials stated that the company’s workers had accepted these conditions. However, UHM argues that those workers who are not selected for certain job categories are being posted to a pool of workers, without receiving any information about their future prospects. These workers would also like to retain the same conditions of work which they have been enjoying so far. UHM has promised its full support to its members.

Commentary

This issue has resulted in yet another public confrontation between Malta’s two largest trade unions – GWU and UHM. Such confrontation is perceived as harmful to the Maltese trade union movement. The dispute brings to the fore the absence of an institution, such as a trade union council (MT0605019I), that could settle such issues in a more cordial way and so avoid the drama of a public debate.

Christine Farrugia and Manwel Debono, Centre for Labour Studies