Reference is made to the news item entitled UHM ultimatum (TMID, 25 March).

For the sake of your readers and to address the “tension among the employees”, it has to be categorically stated that the Union’s assertion “...that not doing anything about the vacancies was leading to a deterioration of court services...” is completely unfounded.

Since the union suspended its directives last January, as a sign of good will, the courts administration sought to address the three issues. In fact, only yesterday, the Management and Personnel Office within the Office of the Prime Minister issued a service-wide circular (MPO Circular number 36/2009) to fill in vacancies in the grade of usher and the union was informed about it, telephonically, by the undersigned. The statement above-quoted is therefore completely out of context and unfair.

As to the other issues, the Courts administration is also attempting to strike an acceptable solution for all parties concerned but discussions and correspondence are still under way. The union is being constantly kept in the loop by the undersigned and his directors.

For these reasons, it is expected that the union withdraws its notice to reactivate its directives this time not out of good will but to acknowledge the concrete action being taken by the courts administration to resolve the pending issues.

Kevin Mahoney

Director General (Courts)

Valletta