Hundreds of the 5,000 students who had registered and paid a deposit in the pre-Christmas campaign where Maltese opted to “be the first” owners of licensed copies of VISTA software at knockdown prices, were disappointed that when they went to Maltapost branches over the past two days to claim their copy of the software, they were turned away because of the industrial action ordered by the UHM.

The software offer was the third one since the first “vertical strategic alliance” between the Malta government and the global software giant was signed in 2003.

Ironically, the promotional campaigns conducted by the IT Ministry promised students they would “be the first” to own Microsoft Vista. The students looked extremely frustrated, especially when they saw piles of the packaged software stacked up behind Maltapost’s counter in a number of branches but the posties manning the counters would not give them their package because of union directives.

Contacted by The Independent on Sunday, a Ministry spokesman said, “One can understand the students’ frustration as they were looking forward to ‘be the first’, especially when one considers the timing of these Maltapost actions which must be especially trying for them. We hope the dispute at Maltapost is resolved quickly for several reasons but also for this.”

In the meantime the Ministry spokesman said that that eligible students, teachers and public service employees can still buy the Vista package at knockdown prices even if they late in paying a deposit in the pre-Christmas campaign.

A limited number of extra packages were delivered and early birds will still be able to ‘be the first’ once the UHM changes its directive on the Vista package.

UHM said in a statement it will increase industrial action at Maltapost since the management has not come up with any concrete offer so far.