Workers threaten industrial action at Maltapost

A trade dispute was recently registered between the Union of United Workers and the management at Maltapost, Malta’s national postal service, in relation to the renewal of a collective agreement which had expired two years ago. During the negotiations, Maltapost’s management proposed certain procedural measures to be included in the collective agreement, but the trade union considered these to be unacceptable.

The Union of United Workers (Union Haddiema Maghqudin, UHM) threatened industrial action after a breakdown in negotiations over the collective agreement at Maltapost. As the collective agreement had expired two years ago, UHM officials accused the company management of dragging its feet in the negotiations on the renewal of a new agreement. According to the Secretary of UHM’s public entities section, Jesmond Bonello, Maltapost’s management was insisting on introducing a number of clauses to the collective agreement, which in the trade union’s view would lead to a deterioration in working conditions.

Union reaction to management proposals

Among these ‘unacceptable’ proposals, the company management was proposing that workers would be dismissed if they fail to wear a uniform and if they report late for work. Mr Bonello of UHM also accused Maltapost’s management of treating its employees very poorly. Furthermore, the trade union reminded the company management that following its previous downsizing exercise, workers had to contend with a heavier workload, entailing new responsibilities and duties. This placed additional pressure on workers.

UHM informed the public Director of Industrial and Employment Relations, Frank Pullicino, that it was registering an industrial dispute with Maltapost’s management. The trade union subsequently alerted all workers to be on standby for industrial action, unless the management withdrew its unfavourable proposals. Furthermore, the union stated that it would be issuing directives ranging from partial industrial action to strike action.

Orders issued by UHM

On 31 January 2007, the trade union issued 10 directives that all Maltapost employees were to carry out as part of the organised industrial action, which included the following:

• to refrain from distributing voting documents for the local council elections to be held in March;

• not to deliver any unaddressed mail;

• not to reply to phone calls, emails or faxes;

• courier workers should not collect any money or work overtime;

• senior administrators should not inform management about the industrial action.

UHM stated that it was forced to resort to such industrial actions after the company management persisted in introducing the abovementioned clauses in the collective agreement. Furthermore, the trade union made it clear that it would step up actions if the management did not reconsider its position.

Reaction of Maltapost officials

Maltapost officials reported that they were surprised with the trade union’s actions as they were under the impression that talks on the issue were still ongoing. Indeed, two other meetings were scheduled for February to continue negotiations. The company management asked UHM to withdraw its directives and stated that it was ‘always available to meet, even on a daily basis if necessary, to bring the collective agreement to a satisfactory conclusion’. Thereafter, an urgent conciliation meeting was scheduled between the two sides, with the participation of Mr Pullicino.

The trade union suspended the industrial actions on the same day of the meeting, after the management of the company withdrew its proposals for the collective agreement. UHM stated that it was satisfied with the way the Maltapost employees followed the union’s instructions.

Christine Farrugia, Centre for Labour Studies, University of Malta