Jul 16 - Government Statement On Borders And Coastguard Agency Industrial Action

The Government has said it is working closely in partnership with workers representatives in the Borders and Coastguard Agency to resolve issues raised by their members.

The unions had arranged to meet with the Chief Minister on 13th July but this meeting had to be rescheduled for 28th July as, at short notice, Fabian Picardo was offered a meeting with the Chairman of the UN Committee of 24 in New York.

A spokesman for No6 said: "The Government appreciates that they do an enormously important job for Gibraltar keeping our frontiers open and fluid, dealing with millions of visitors to Gibraltar and, most importantly, doing so professionally and in the way demonstrating that unnecessary queues are only ever caused by the politically motivated actions of the Spanish Government, thereby always allowing us to have the moral high ground internationally.

"That is why the Government has been working closely with BCA representatives in a working group designed to address all workers and managements concerns about how to further strengthen the organisation going forward.

"This unnecessary industrial action will not advance things in any way nor will it in any way impede the excellent progress that is being made, even if that has not yet produced tangible results on the shop floor. The Government appreciates that the action being taken should not have any effect on the service offered by the BCA, and the public will no doubt welcome that.

"Despite the present unnecessary industrial action, the Chief Minister very much continues to look forward to meeting with BCA representatives in order to continue the positive engagement to produce a better future the Agency and its members." 

{fcomment}