In a statement, the GWU explained that in April, the Manufacture and Services Department took the drastic

decision to completely remove the shift system for those working with traffic lights and lifts.

It was proposed that the workers in the air-conditioning sector would not work on a shift basis between November and April, and that for the rest of the year, they would be divided into two groups, one working on a shift system and the other on a day system.

The management has to introduce an on-call system for emergencies that were previously covered by those working on the shift.

The GWU members in this sector were annoyed by these decisions since, they claimed, put them in a bad light. This is because every time traffic lights, lifts or air-conditioners are out of order, the public blames the workers instead of the government officials who make the decisions behind the scenes.

The GWU public sector claimed that government was trying to save money by reducing the hours of responsible workers while spending thousands to have contractors install lifts in public places.

Shifts are necessary since the system has been productive and has given the best and most efficient results, concluded the GWU.