Unite has responded to the two press statements issued by HMGOG and AquaGib in respect of the industrial action that commenced yesterday morning within AquaGib. 

A statement continued: “Members across AGL were presented with a proposal of a Companywide Review in late 2023 which the union were engaging in, including members working within Reverse Osmosis Department and provided a response in respect of key red lines as part of that review.

“That review fizzled out and a claim was then issued to AGL Senior Management in March 2024 for the membership in the department and following one meeting shortly after, the claim was then later rejected in full by the employer in October 2024. The union and the membership entered into the AGL Dispute Resolution Procedure and on 12^th December 2024 engaged in a full day conciliation session with management and an independent conciliator, negligible progress was made. AGL & HMGOG were advised on the 12^th & 13^th December 2024 that this dispute was heading to strike action and following an unsuccessful meeting with the Minister on Thursday (23^rd January 2025) action was formally called in writing to the employer and commenced yesterday morning.”

Stuart Davies, National Officer for Unite Gibraltar stated “Firstly we need to be absolutely clear, the union called and the membership commenced lawful industrial action on Friday, this has not been disputed in the two press releases by HMGOG. AGL through HMGOG references constructive engagement from the union; however the employer have abjectly failed to follow this themselves and their approach to the membership and their claim has been dismissive at best. AGL have cited the action as premature, unreasonable and unjustifiable when the union and members, on a claim that was issued ten months ago, have exhausted the dispute resolution procedure, a procedure which AGL approached with little appetite towards dispute resolution.

“AGL & HMGOG have been aware for six weeks that this dispute was heading to strike action and then act surprised when action is called. AGL’s approach to industrial relations is broken which is reflected in the employer’s threats to consider disciplinary action against the workers for participating in lawful industrial action. Our members will be vigorously defended in the face of any threat of disciplinary action, a threat that simply has the potential to escalate this dispute and represents a sad day for industrial relations in Gibraltar.

“The convening of the Civil Contingency Committee to consider whether to intervene in the strike action raises a real threat to the right to strike. In calling the action, the potential impact on Gibraltar in terms of available water supplies and third party contingency measures that are available to ensure the continued supply of potable to the whole of Gibraltar were all fully considered. Whilst we welcome the statement from HMGOG that respects and defends the right to strike, this is a dangerous development to the fundamental right to withdraw labour in pursuit of a trade dispute and where will this end in terms of which workers are permitted to strike by the Civil Contingency Committee?”.