The Malta Dockers Union said that no pressure was ever made on the government and no public funds were used for the recognition gesture granted to licensed dock workers, with union president Ing. Ryan Fava saying it was financed entirely from the workers' own accounts.
In a statement, it said that licensed dock workers continued working throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure medicines, food and other essential goods reached Maltese and Gozitan citizens, with Fava saying the workers' contribution had been "absolute and indispensable."
On Thursday, the UĦM Voice of the Workers criticised government over a one-off €7,000 payment awarded to shore and port workers for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that thousands of other frontline and essential workers are being left out and only receiving "a clap or a coin" in comparison.
Times of Malta reported that during a Malta Dockers Union conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Robert Abela had announced a one-time payment for port workers, with the amount varying depending on their length of service during the pandemic, as recognition for their continued work during the challenging period.
The union said it organised its General Conference on Wednesday, attended by licensed dock workers, during which various important themes related to working conditions and the responsibilities of members were discussed.
The statement said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, licensed dock workers continued working tirelessly at a time of national fear and uncertainty to ensure medicines, essential daily products, food and drink could be unloaded from ships and delivered to Maltese and Gozitan citizens.
"Their cooperation was total and unconditional," the union said.
The union added that it worked to recognise this contribution in a concrete manner, noting that during the difficult pandemic period, licensed dock workers continued paying the weekly wages of all auxiliary workers despite suffering a considerable drop in income due to the drastic decline in ship traffic to Malta.
"This was a responsible and solidaristic decision that reflects the values of the union and its members," the statement said.
The union also noted that Prime Minister Robert Abela had been invited to address the conference, during which he expressed appreciation for the essential work carried out by dock workers throughout the pandemic.
Fava stressed that no pressure had ever been placed on the State and that no request had ever been made for public funds or taxpayers' money to be used.
"The gesture of recognition that was made was financed entirely from the accounts of the licensed workers themselves, so that they could be fairly compensated for the contribution they gave during a critical moment for the country," the union said.
The statement added that the amount allocated by the union for this purpose had been requested to be announced by the Prime Minister during the conference "as a sign of respect towards the workers and the work they carried out."