The Civil Protection Association has filed a writ in court requesting the setting up of a Joint Negotiating Council.

The association said that this would be the only institution that the country’s industrial laws allow in order for it to air its grievances.

It also requested that the court fix a set term for the council to be set up, and if this was not possible, to allow CPD employees to put its case forward before an Industrial Tribunal instead.

It also reserved the right to take any other legal action that would allow it to safeguard the rights of its members. The writ was filed by Ian Spiteri Bailey and Edward Gatt.

The association said that it had been trying to get issues addressed since September 2003 over improved working conditions.

These included payment of danger, risk, height and depth allowances, collective insurance and the possibility of retiring after 25 years.

The negotiations failed, and subsequently the issue was taken up with CPD head Peter Cordina. The association subsequently wrote to the Industrial Relations Director and finally the Employment Minister, but to no avail.

The complainants said that industrial law provided that the Joint Negotiating Council should be set up to serve as a specialist forum where disputes for essential service providers, such as the CPD can be addressed.

A meeting was later held with Minister Louis Galea and a plan was announced to hold meetings with officials from the Interior Ministry. These were held, but only trivial matters were solved.