Broadcasting Authority employees hold symbolic protest outside parliament

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Broadcasting Authority employees, flanked by Union Haddiema Maghqudin, held a silent protest outside parliament calling for the resignation of BA chairperson, Tanya Borg Cardona.

Members of parliament entering the building received a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, in which the UHM – on behalf of the workers – urges the Prime Minister to dismiss Borg Cardona.

Last month, Muscat informed the UHM that, although he had noted the workers’ petition, the authority was an independent one and it regulates itself. “We have drawn the authority’s attention to the workers’ situation,” he wrote.

Muscat expressed the same sentiment this evening outside parliament, where he reiterated that there should be a review.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil offered his support to the workers.

The union said that the situation at the Broadcasting Authority was deteriorating.

Last week, BA employees held an industrial action over a dispute with the authority's chairperson, who they said considers the employees to be “extra” and whom they have accused of bullying.

UHM CEO Josef Bonello said that while parliament is debating a new law intended to restructure and strengthen the media, the government was allowing the situation at the authority to deteriorate.

Parliament will tonight debate the Media and Defamation Act.

"We are here in a symbolic protest on behalf of the workers of the Broadcasting Authority because the government has not yet addressed their concerns," said Bonello.

Bonello stressed that this was the second letter that the union was sending to the Prime Minister, adding that a solution needed to be found to safeguard the functioning of the media watchdog, especially in light of the upcoming election.

"It is not enough for the country to have a government that listens," insisted Bonello.

"It must also be ready to take action."