The Malta Employers Association stated that the way the strike by the transport operators has escalated is shameful and a flagrant abuse of the right to industrial action. The Association said that by blocking traffic and disrupting emergency transport, using illegal methods and violence, these operators are depriving many employees from their fundamental right to go to work.

The MEA called on government to take all necessary action to ensure that the rule of law prevails, and to demonstrate that there is no one above the law, even if they are taking industrial action. The Association stressed that it is unfair and a miscarriage of justice that when a van is parked irregularly for a couple of minutes to deliver goods to a corner shop, it is issued with a hefty fine, and yet, the transport operators have blatantly blocked traffic for hours and days without any action by wardens or police. This is sending the wrong signal to honest, law abiding working people.

The Association also said that employers had warned government about the perils of retaining the right to sympathy action when the EIRA was being formulated. It is unacceptable that an action that involves a few individuals is holding the country at ransom, and costing millions of euros per day in terms of lost production, diminished business activity and tarnished image to the country. Public transport is an essential service and there should be provisions to safeguard Maltese society against the abuse to which it is being subjected by irresponsible individuals.

MEA called for severe and uncompromising law enforcement, and for a revision of existing legislation to ensure that such tragedies will not re-occur.

Permalink: MEA calls for Severe Law Enforcement and Revised Legislation