• Holland And Barrett Vitamins Gibraltar Offer

Feb 23 - Unite To GGCA: We Are Not Against Nationalisation

Unite the Union has said that it is not against nationalizing Master Service. But, the union argues that to propose this option in the current climate is to give employees “false expectations.” The union makes these points in an open letter to the GGCA which is reproduced in full below:

“Unite has taken note of the latest statement made by the GGCA in respects to the Master Service issue.

“The GGCA has willingly misconstrued our message and capitalised on this, accusing Unite of being against the nationalisation of Master Service and being in favour of privatisation, when this is not the case.

“Unite in the last 10 years, for the benefit of those who would care to understand, have negotiated the nationalisation of three large entities, as well as a few others, from the Private Sector, these being the Borders and Coastguard Agency, which were the old Security and Immigration Limited, the GATL and the Lunch School Attendants, accounting for over 400 posts. Unite hopes that our position on the matter is now clear, meaning that we are not against nationalisation.

“Unite has requested the nationalisation of Master Service on multiple occasions to both the previous and current administrations, where the reply has always been the same: no. Unite is a responsible union and has always been coherent with its members, and given the times that are upon us with Brexit, requesting nationalisation at present is giving those employees false expectations and leading them up the garden path.

“Having said this, if the GGCA is capable of delivering the nationalisation of Master Service to the benefit of ALL employees, Unite will applaud it. Given that the GGCA has adopted such a Bolshevist attitude however, which, incidentally, greatly pleases Unite, perhaps it is the moment to push for the total integration of the ring-fenced Civil Servants and GDC Workforce as fully fledged Civil Servants. The GGCA has historically discriminated against these colleagues' integration, considering them second class employees, something that Unite does not share, has always defended and will continue to press for aggressively.

“Additionally, we recognise that the GGCA is being publicly silent on the MOD, but behind closed doors, the GGCA should take care of not becoming the mouthpiece of the UK Government against the interests of Gibraltar and its MOD civilian workforce all the while not having negotiating rights for this area.

“Unite waits with bated breath the GGCA's reply, and perhaps it will be apparent to all who has 'the best interests of the workforce at heart' as well as true Trade Union values.”



{fcomment}