Feb 21 – GGCA “Horrified” By Latest “Attack” From Unite
The GGCA says it is “horrified and stupefied by the latest attack” by Unite the Union.
A statement from the union continued: “The statement from Unite as a whole is incomprehensible. Certainly it is beyond the GGCA’s understanding why they cannot simply talk to us directly. We have not risen to the bait in the past to unseemly comments directed at us by our fellow unionists since we did not want to be involved in a media war with an organisation with whom we should have so much in common. However, it seems that this is no longer the case.
“Anyone who read the press release of the 14/2/17 issued by Unite must have read it in complete incredulity. Particularly the part that states “…the multitude of tasks that a Government needs to undertake to meet the need of its community would be cost prohibitive if these were undertaken from within the public sector…”.
“Essentially, Unite are arguing against renationalisation and in favour of privatisation! The GFSB and the Chamber of Commerce must be rubbing its hands in glee that a union so willingly accepts free market principles. Whilst the ordinary workers they are supposed to represent (Master Service staff included) must be dismayed that their own union seeks to rule out such an option themselves.
“It would be understandable if an employer stated that a particular industrial remedy is prohibitive but a union cannot of itself remove it from the negotiating table from the off. Any union worth its salt would pursue re-nationalisation (in fact Unite UK is doing so in several areas like the steel industry as well as rail and bus networks– just look at their own website: http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/renationalise-steel-now-unite-urges-government/). The Gibraltar branch of Unite, therefore, is doing a disservice to its own members which can only mean they don’t really have their best interests at heart.
“On the matter of the MoD; we may seem “silent” but we are in close contact with our members there about the ongoing process of discussions and negotiations that we are involved in with the MoD management.
“The GGCA will continue to fight employers in order to improve for our workers’ rights rather than against another union. In this regard we feel our members are better off if we are being “silent” than running our mouth off. We would advise Unite to cease in its efforts of being a mouthpiece for the Government of Gibraltar in this and other matters in which we are involved as well as rethink its union principles.”
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