GRTU rules out industrial action at ports

By David Lindsay

The Association of General Retailers and Traders Director General Vince Farrugia yesterday ruled out resorting to industrial action at Malta’s ports to settle the dispute it is currently facing with the government.

The bone of contention lies in increases to road licenses rates for tractor units that pull trailers carrying containers, which in some cases are said to have quadrupled, and which the GRTU had instructed cargo hauliers not to pay.

However, following a meeting held yesterday between the GRTU, Finance Minister John Dalli and Transport Minister Censu Galea relations between the union and the government appear to be on the mend, with technical discussions in the immediate pipeline between the two bodies.

Mr Farrugia, speaking to The Malta Financial and Business Times yesterday evening said he expects the discussions, which will deal with technical transportation aspects of the acquis communitaire, to come to a fruitful outcome by next week.

Both ministers were involved given the fact that it is the Transport Ministry that issues new license rates while the Finance Ministry is involved through the Customs Department, which licenses cargo hauliers.