Workers at the Drydocks have a big challenge ahead of them if they are to reach the targets imposed by the European Union for 2008 onwards. For this reason the GWU’s Metal and Construction Division has prepared plans which it is convinced can save the Drydocks, the union said.

“Since the current government does not even seem interested in this plan, the union has presented the plans to the opposition for their consideration,” it added.

“The foundation for saving the Drydocks is the maximum utilisation of capital and labour. This includes among others that work in the shipyards should be complemented with work in the breakwaters, and the tankers’ market should be cultivated among others,” it said.

According to the union, parts of the present government’s plan for the Grand Harbour go against all this, and the union has already declared that it would oppose these parts of the plan. Now it appeared that the opposition’s plan, where it involved the Drydocks resources was similar to the government’s.

In the coming days the union would be clearing up those parts with which prima facie it did not agree, especially that part which would badly affect the workers financially and in their future prospects.