After a meeting between sector secretary Jesmond Bonello and the committee representing Sedqa workers, it was decided that, on the sector’s orders, the workers will not use their private transport at work and will also not use telephones, faxes, emails or the post, as from 7 May.

This sector of the union had asked Sedqa to give its counter-proposals by yesterday and now claims it has no other option but to take industrial action.

Despite the fact that the Sedqa workers’ collective agreement expired on 31 December 2003, the agency has not even initiated any discussions. Although the Public Entities Sector of the UHM has drawn Sedqa’s attention to the matter, the agency has not shown any sign that it is ready to begin negotiations on this collective agreement.