The Union Haddiema Maghqudin’s Public Entities Section yesterday ordered a total strike at Maltapost, starting today, attributing the decision to the management’s “intransigence” over a collective agreement. The employees, the union said, are today protesting against the management’s attitude by meeting outside the company’s head office in Marsa, where they will be addressed by union officials.

Maltapost itself issued a statement yesterday that the industrial action ordered by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin was “regrettably still in force”. The industrial action, which started on 14 May, was “purportedly motivated” by what the union claims are health and safety matters and was affecting the delivery of addressed door to door bulk mail and unaddressed mail, Maltapost said.

Maltapost, which said it has been and remains totally committed to the health and safety of its employees, added it had complied with all recommendations made by the Director of Industrial and Employee Relations, including carrying out a second risk assessment on the delivery operation.

Notwithstanding the company’s full cooperation with the union, the UHM “has in turn ignored the Director of Industrial and Employee Relations and kept up its directives on the matter which today have reached their 10th consecutive day”.

Maltapost said it was in the final stages of negotiation of a collective agreement with the union and was participating in all negotiation meetings that were being chaired by the Director of Industrial and Employee Relations.