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Two brothers who respectively lead two distinct groups of shore foremen and who incidentally belong to the same trade union, managed to halt all operations at Malta Freeport last Thursday evening over a “territory” issue that prompted “fast-track” ministerial intervention within hours from the dispute. The strike was reported by no media organisation.
Joe Portelli, UHM shop steward at the Freeport and his brother Carmelo Portelli, UHM shop steward at port services, halted the Freeport operations from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday as they both ran into each other over a territorial matter that involved the unloading of imported cars at the terminal in Kalafrana.
Joe and Carmelo Portelli, better known in their circles as ‘Tal-Halupp’, incidentally are brother-in-laws to PN secretary general Joe Saliba.
The industrial action was temporarily suspended yesterday after the union sat in for a conciliatory meeting presided over by Education Minister Louis Galea. The meeting was also attended by Ports Minister Censu Galea, Freeport Corporation Chairman Mark Portelli, the representative of CMA-CGM Beppe Hili and representatives of the shore foremen.
While sources explained to MaltaToday that the unloading of imported vehicles is “unusual” at the Malta Freeport, it automatically prompted the shore foremen who work at the Grand Harbour to shift to the Freeport Terminal on Thursday to pursue their “piece of bread” as the unloading of cars is usually done within their “territory” at the deep water quay in the Grand Harbour.
Both groups contested their right over the scheduled unloading of vehicles, and got into an impasse. They “agreed” to sit still, and halt operations until “someone” intervened and sorted out the territorial issue.
While operations were halted, a series of telephone calls to minister Censu Galea were made throughout the evening, and who eventually gave in to accept “discussions” on condition that they lift the actions and get back to work.
The shoremen are reported to have also asked to involve Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in the discussions, and insisted to meet him “within hours”.
A spokesman for Castille confirmed the request by the shoremen, and explained that there was no way that the Prime Minister could accede to their request at such a short notice given his very tight agenda. The meeting remains “hypothetically” scheduled but without a specific date and time.
The meeting was fast-tracked to Friday, where minister Censu Galea – who is heading the port reform – was expected to meet the Portelli brothers and the UHM representatives.
However, also due to a tight agenda, the minister was pressured into talking to the UHM representatives “repeatedly” and for long stretches of time on his cell phone.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Minister Censu Galea explained that he even had to recharge his cell phone battery as the “phone negotiations” disrupted his whole day on Friday.
Although the industrial actions have been suspended, UHM representatives have reserved the right to order other actions to safeguard the shore foremen’s rights.
UHM is reported to have accepted that two ships carrying vehicles, one yesterday and another one expected to dock tomorrow, be unloaded by Freeport personnel given that negotiations over the impasse are ongoing.
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