MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ministry of Defence faces industrial action.

Following on from the announcement that the EU has ruled that the present Gibraltar exempt company system must end by 2010, the otherwise rock solid economy has been given a further blow by the by the MoD, with some 600 civilian jobs scheduled to go.

Earlier in the month, Peter Caruana, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar received a surprise visit from the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram.

At the time nothing was said about his visit, but it is now known he came with the news that the MoD planned to 'contract out' most of its employees work.

This announcement has come without consulting local unions and is presented as a cost cutting exercise. However after the experience when the dockyard workers were transferred to a contractor who quickly ceased operation, the process is seen by many as a way for the UK government to save costs by avoiding pension and other liabilities and an insult to otherwise loyal workers.

The Government of Gibraltar has issued a stern warning to any potential contractors that It considers it is unacceptable that the MOD should simply announce a "fait accompli" without any prior consultation or negotiations with local trade unions.

The MOD makes no secret of the fact that it expects that, after contractorisation, the contractor will then make people redundant and cut jobs. The MOD calls this "subsequent job losses through further contractor efficencies."

The Gibraltar Government has issued a stern warning that there will be "a range of legislative and fiscal measures designed to minimise the social and economic impact in Gibraltar of the MOD_s contractorisation and job loss plans" which will in effect 'poison the cake' of any incoming contractor.

Although the Military believe they can withstand the unions, Government and united people of Gibraltar, a civilian contractor cannot.

ASCTEG, an organisation of Spanish workers in Gibraltar has stated that they do not intend to be used as cheap disposable labour. Orders have gone out to resident UK forces to present a low profile and avoid confrontation, whilst armed GSP personnel have been seen at key points around the Rock.

Source by gibnews.net