GWU in dispute with consumer affairs authority

The General Workers' Union (GWU)'s Professionals, Finance and Services Section has registered an industrial dispute with the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA).

MCCAA includes the Malta Standards Authority, Malta National Laboratory and the Consumer and Competition Department.

The GWU said the dispute relates to the working environment at the new head office of the Authority at Mizzi House in Blata l-Bajda.

The GWU said MCCAA employees have been working in the building for over three months and have repeatedly raised many environment concerns some of which relate to health and safety.

Moreover employees of the former Standards Authority had to move into the building well before the works were completed, so much so that works were still at their beginning.

The GWU said: "Employees have had to work in the building whilst major renovations were being conducted. Commitments that all environment concerns would be completed by the end of November have not materialised and this has caused great frustration amongst staff."

The GWU added that in the coming weeks more employees namely Consumer and Competition staff will also be moved into Mizzi House creating more problems for the staff already occupying the building and new staff that will join.

The GWU praised the efforts of the management particularly the executive chairman to speed up works and to accommodate staff.

However the GWU said that this move was wrongly planned from the start with staff moving in whilst major works were still being conducted.

"The situation has become unbearable for staff members and the Union must ensure the interests of members are protected," the GWU said.

The GWU has instructed all members to exit the building whenever health and safety conditions are not respected.