GWU demands halt to MTA employment pratices

The General Workers Union said it was highly concerned and disappointed that vacancies of the Malta Tourism Authority were being issued directly externally, or filled through the appointment of service providers and self employed personnel.

“This implies the blocking of progression for MTA employees that may have been capable to apply for posts required by MTA,” the GWU said in a statement.

In a letter written to MTA chief officer Francis Albani, the GWU secretary for professionals Cory Greenland insisted that the collective agreement, the Public Administration Act and several other government policies clearly require vacancies to be advertised internally.

“The GWU will see to it that this is respected whatsoever the grade or role may be. This is also required by good reason as an opportunity for staff, and also whereby vacancies issued externally could by filled up by ETC nominees and as such never even published externally forfeiting any opportunity to staff,” Greenland said.

The has GWU requested that no further such initiatives are taken particularly until the recognition issue is settled.

In its reaction, the MTA disputed the allegations that vacancies are being issued directly or that the engagement of service providers interferes with the promotion of MTA staff. "All full time positions covered by the Collective Agreement grades are filled in conformity with the established procedure. The most recent case was a call for Enforcement Officers," the MTA said.

The authority said that service providers are generally engaged in tasks of a temporary nature, as students on summer placement, or as a stop gap solution until the position gains the required approvals. "Once a vacancy is approved, this is first circulated internally to eligible staff, and any applicants for the post interviewed. There have been several occasions when such vacancies were filled by MTA employees. In the event that no suitable applicants are found internally or no internal applications are received, then a call is made through the ETC requesting that persons registering on the various parts of the ETC register are informed of the vacancy and are interviewed accordingly."

MTA said it is only after this process has been exhausted that an external call is advertised on the media. "The MTA asks the GWU to substantiate its allegations. MTA regrets that this issue was raised by the General Workers Union at a time when the same Union is claiming to represent the majority of the MTA employees and when the Union is aware that a verification exercise is imminent."