A number of clauses have been removed from the previous collective agreement signed between the General Workers’ Union and the management of security printers De La Rue, this newsroom is informed.
The GWU enjoys the majority of De La Rue’s workers as its members.
Workers who spoke to this newsroom on condition of anonymity claimed that the GWU and the company’s management ‘hid’ changes made to the agreement since employees were not informed of the new changes by the GWU prior to the signing. Besides, it was also claimed by employees that some workers decided to join the Union Haddiema Maghudin – which has a third of De La Rue’s workers as its members - amid “subtle threats” to sign a petition which was making the rounds to support the GWU technology, electronics and communications section secretary David Darmanin.
On the agreement, workers said that “today, we have learnt what changes have been made to the previous agreement; in fact there were a number of clauses which were removed which in turn are negatively affecting our working conditions”.
Workers said that they had a meeting with GWU secretary general Tony Zarb and Mr Darmanin and the only action which was taken by the union was to create a petition to support Mr Darmanin. The petition was being taken care of by the GWU shop steward.
“How can one feel free to not sign the petition when it was the GWU shop steward who was collecting the signatures on behalf of Mr Darmanin?” workers asked.
“It is clear that the agreement was signed between the GWU and the management behind our backs,” workers continued.
But De La Rue had a different story to tell and said: “De La Rue confirms that it holds a collective agreement with the GWU. This agreement covers the period to 31 March, 2016 and was signed on 20 November, 2013. No changes have been made to the 2013 agreement since it was signed and there are no current discussions to change the 2013 agreement,” Sarah Woodall, De La Rue (UK) Communications Manager, Corporate, said.
UHM holds meeting with employees
This newsroom contacted the Union Haddiema Maghqudin after this newsroom was informed that the union held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the changes made to the collective agreement.
UHM president Jesmond Bonello said that the feedback they got from the meeting was that workers are highly irritated over the issues which cropped up, especially since they were not made aware about the drastic changes in the collective agreement.
He said: “We intend trying to bring on board as many workers as possible with the UHM, and we will monitor the situation closely,” he said. A third of workers have already joined the UHM, he continued.
New restrictions imposed on workers in collective agreement
A series of clauses have been changed imposing restrictions on employees. One clause inserted in the new collective agreement reads that parental leave applications may only be withdrawn or changed upon agreement by the company. In the new collective agreement employees who opt to work on full-time reduced hours cannot go back to full-time hours without being granted permission from management. This restriction did not exist in the previous agreement.
Overtime
Before the new agreement was signed, employees could opt not to work overtime if they were not advised 24 hours beforehand but now it was changed to one working day which means that workers may be advised up to eight hours before.
It also states that the company will do its best to advise such workers in the above-mentioned stipulated period but changes in circumstances may lead to no prior notice given to workers. This does not apply however when workers are out on sick leave or on vacation leave and therefore cannot be informed.
New clause: Revision of annual sick leave entitlement
The new clause gives the right to the company to reduce sick leave entitlement from 30 days full and 30 days half pay to only 12 days full. This right did not exist in the previous agreement either.
This newsroom is also informed that apart from sending the company doctor to the homes of workers when they are on sick leave, De La Rue is also sending HR representatives to check on them and this is placing undue pressure on the employees.
Employees were paid in full for four weeks when workload was at a minimum
Before, the employees were given four weeks of pay if there was not much work. In the new collective agreement, this clause was removed.
Another clause states that the company can now add new job titles. This right is only there for the company and not the union and this may lead to absorption of further duties without any compensation whatsoever.
GWU section official hangs up on us
This newsroom contacted GWU secretary general Tony Zarb for a comment but Mr Zarb in turn referred us to Mr Darmanin. The minute we called Mr Darmanin and told him where we were from, he hung up on us. We tried to call him again and again but he kept hanging up. We also sent him an e-mail asking him to reply to the allegations that have been made against the union but to no avail, at least until by the time we went to print. This newsroom made one last attempt to call Mr Zarb but he did not answer our call.