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James Debono
The General Workers Union head of the Food and Hospitality section Josef Bugeja has revealed that none of the sixty employees at the Casinò Di Venezia in Vittoriosa would lose their jobs after the sale of the troubled casino.
“The Italians have informed us that since they will only be selling their share in the company running the casino, the sixty employees will retain their jobs,” Bugeja said about the Venezia comune, the owner of the casino.
Trade unionist Josef Bugeja was recently the protagonist of a clash with Giuseppe Moscheni, the director of the Maltese branch of the Casinò di Venezia and also a former CGIL trade union leader in Italy.
A letter sent by Bugeja to the director general of the Casinò di Venezia Armando Favaretto denouncing Moscheni’s behaviour, prompted an inspection by three top Italian officials of the casino.
Following the inspection, Moscheni has now been temporarily suspended according to Italian regional newspaper Gazzettino di Venezia.
Speaking to MaltaToday, Josef Bugeja confirmed reports in the Italian media on the content of his letter to Favaretto. According to the reports, Bugeja told Favaretto that the relationships between the GWU and Moscheni had degenerated to the point that he was banned from organising meetings for employees in the casino.
In his letter Bugeja denounced that casino workers are subjected to “shouting and threats” by the former Italian trade unionist.
Bugeja also said that an employee was forced to sign a blank paper so that in case of an eventual error, Moscheni would himself write the employee’s letter of resignation.
It seems that the relationship between the GWU and the former trade unionist deteriorated after a demand from the union for a two per cent salary increase for the troubled casino’s employees was turned down by Moscheni.
In his letter Bugeja also criticised policies which are leading to a loss of clients namely cuts on soft drinks and hot beverages, expensive snacks after eleven ‘o’ clock and poor lottery prizes.
The visit of the three top officials of the casino coincided with what Il Gazzettino di Venezia has referred to as “tough negotiations on the sale of the Casinò.”
The Casinò di Venezia is owned by the Venetian Local Council. The mayor of Venice Massimo Cacciari has decided to sell the Venetian share in the Maltese casino. On Tuesday the Gazzettino di Venezia revealed that the current administration council of the Casinò di Venezia was unable to decide on the “imminent sale of the casino” due to a procedural problem. The administrative council was expected to discuss the sale on Thursday.
Since a new administrative council is due to be appointed on 5 July, the current council is not deemed fit to take a major decision on a sale which will have a significant bearing on the Venetian budget.
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
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