GGR: Reform not possible without rights progress

Equality Rights organisation Gibraltar Gay Rights (GGR) has published the full text of a parliamentary question recently put to Minister for Europe Dennis MacShane in the House of Commons regarding sexual orientation human rights in Gibraltar by Conservative MP Alan Duncan, who is also Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.

We do so by way of highlighting the British Government's thinking on the issue of Constitutional Reform. And as an organisation GGR has to say: there can be no reform of the Consitution which does not address the issue of human rights in a substantial and honest way, a spokesperson stated.

In fact, GGR is pleased at the level of concern and understanding being expressed by Westminster politicians in general and by Her Majesty’s Government in particular, and it is especially noteworthy and instructive that Minister MacShane answers a fairly general question with a very specific response regarding the manner in which the British Government foresees change within a prospective new Constitution for Gibraltar. In fact, Mr MacShane's response centres on the Constitutional aspect and GGR is pleased to note the manner in which its lobbying on the matter has taken root.

The communiqué further adds that judging from the Parliamentary statement by the Minister “HMG is very clear on this matter: as the party responsible for Gibraltar’s compliance under both European Union and European Convention law, the British Government (to use their own parliamentary words) “wish to ensure that Gibraltar’s Constitution is in line” with these responsibilities. Additionally, GGR is gratified by the fact that the Minister in Parliament has taken the opportunity to reiterate HMG’s advice to the Gibraltar Government to equalise its Age of Consent legislation. All of these are heartening and clear indications of commitment to progress on matters for which GGR has been steadily campaigning.

In a few words: the Gibraltar Government is under notice from both the British Government's and the European Court of Human Rights to equalise its Age of Consent legislation. GGR looks forward to widening our current official but limited dialogue and cooperation with the Gibraltar Government to include this and any other issues so as to seek social progress. Our readiness to talk will be accompanied by an equal readiness to listen. Sentiments which we trust will be duly and similarly reciprocated by the Gibraltar Government, the Statement ended.

Gibraltar Gay Rights (GGR) - Press Release - 28 February 2005 23:00

Shares of company involved in Eastside project take a dive

Shares in the Multiplex group which is involved in the Gibraltar 'eastside project', took' a dive after it said that it would not make any money in another project they are involved in, the new Wembley Stadium.

Investors were shaken by the news that the group would only break even in the 458 million pounds Wembley project, and would not make the solid profits expected.

Costs Risen

Their chief executive said costs for the Wembley project had risen due to recent reassessment of both finishing trades and a replacement steel contract, said reports in Australia.

Reports in London said that any profits would depend on the outcome of legal cases resulting from a change in steel contractor. Multiplex would have to win legal claims against subcontractors.

The company said it believes their claims are sound and that profits will be possible in future periods.

But former steel contractor Cleveland Bridge has issued a strongly-worded statement saying that "it is extraordinary that a giant, experienced, publicly-listed construction company like Multiplex should find itself, by implication, laying its financial woes at the feet of a subcontractor, of whom it has stated on many occasions to be of no significance or importance to the timely or profitable delivery of Wembley national stadium."

A spokesman for Gordon Sachs is quoted as saying that "such a big writeback on the Wembley project in such a short period has impacted on management credibility."

Wembley should be ready by next January, which almost coincides with the expected execution of the head lease for the Gibraltar 'eastside project'.

Last month the company in which Multiplex has a 51% shareholding, MCB (Gibraltar) Ltd, was chosen for the one-billion pound Eastside project.

The outline planning permission for this huge project is expected to take 14 months, whereupon the company would be expected to make a substantial monetary contribution in excess of 28 million pounds in executing the head lease and other commercial agreements.

The Eastside project will be executed over a 10-year period. If the developer withdraws from the project before outline permission is given the government retains the 4.74 million pounds already paid, said the government at the time the money was paid.

Publicly-quoted companies can see their shares go up and down in stock exchanges.

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

The Government will make it very difficult for MoD contractors to trade in Gibraltar, say Unions

Military base industrial dispute intensifies

The Gibraltar Government will be making it extremely difficult for any contractor to come into Gibraltar to take the MoD jobs, TGWU sources said to the Chronicle at the weekend.

Among the measures that the Chief Minister is reportedly considering making the main ISP contractor accept a compulsory statutory occupational pension for every former MoD employee it takes on, and also introducing measures to increase the redundancy payment agreement applicable to Gibraltar. According to Union sources, a reactivation of the fair wages clause is another of the measures currently being studied by Convent Place. The TGWU said that the measures announced by the Chief Minister Peter Caruana last week were aimed at making potential contractors understand that they will not have an easy time in Gibraltar and that the operation will be made as expensive as possible for them.

As regards the dispute with the MoD the Gibraltar Trades Council met on Friday to discuss the plan of industrial action and how and when it will be implemented as from this week.

Meanwhile the TGWU has said it wished to clarify that Thursday’s press conference by the GSLP (Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party) where a delegation of the Gibraltar Trades Council and the other Unions were present, was not a joint press conference and should not be interpreted as a move by the Unions toward the political position defended by Joe Bossano. “The Union does not support any political party,” said a spokesman.

Speaking to the Chronicle the spokesman said that the Unions were supporting both the Government and the Opposition in the stand they were taking, and that the fact that they were present during the press conference was because of a coincidence of timings, since their meeting with the GSLP had been scheduled for the same time.

Meanwhile Transport House has also declared that the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce have asked to meet the TGWU this week to be informed of the situation in the MoD before making public their own views on the contractorisation dispute.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Bed shortages at new St Bernard's Hospital

The problem of bed shortages appears to have been imported by the new St Bernard's Hospital, even if it is not as acute as was the case at the old hospital.

by PANORAMA reporter

Reports reaching us say that a patient has been seen waiting in the hospital for a bed to become available, and that-staff have told the patient that as soon as a bed became available the person would be notified.

It is also said that patients already occupying a bed are asked to go home when a demand arises from presumably more urgent cases.

Although 65 persons were moved to Mount Alvernia before the move to the new hospital, it is said that only 122 adult beds are available in the general wards.

Waiting Time

In another development, a card received by a patient from the hospital outpatients department about seeing an orthopaedic surgeon refers to waiting times being between 12 and 18 months.

This has led to Opposition health spokesperson Mari Montegriffo saying that "this is a totally unacceptable situation and it continues to prove that the many problems existing in the old St Bernard's Hospital have definitely been passed on to the Europort building."

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

Grab a TAXI!

TAXI is a new name to look out for in the Spanish music market, with Dylan Ferro, Danny Fa and Danny Bugeja.

The former members of Melon Diesel have already created much interest in their new group venture signing a record deal with Sena records. The first single taken from their first album recorded in American and Spain is En Mi Coche. The album called Libre is set for release on 15 March. The Chronicle has three copies of the single, which is not available commercially, to give away signed by the group members. More details this week in the Gibraltar Chronicle.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

MOD security stepped up

People were surprised on Friday when they saw armed MoD police searching cars entering Chilton Court, which is an MOD estate.

While the Headquarters Briish Forces might say that it has nothing to do with the current dispute over job cuts, the feeling in town is that security has been stepped up precisely because of the developing situation.

This follows a statement by Commodore Allan Adair saying that an internal circular has been sent to all service personnel in Gibraltar about avoiding to wear uniforms outside the MoD areas etc.

This provoked the chief minister to say that Gibraltar is not Basra or Kosovo.

But, clearly, the MoD are taking no chances as the search of cars entering an MoDestate showed.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper - More...

The MoD – Union clash: 1974

by Jonathan Jeffries

Recently released British Government files have shown the continued spying that took place on Gibraltarian trade unionists during 1974 by Special Branch department within the Royal Gibraltar Police.

The focus of the four files released was on the ‘parity with British workers campaign’ organised by the TGWU.

One of the most interesting items was a Special branch report that singled out five trade unionists involved in organising this parity campaign. They were all labelled as Communist and anarchists. They included Jose Netto who was said to have been a member of Spanish exiled Anarchist Party and to be ‘well versed in this philosophy (anarchism) into which he self educated himself by copious reading of Anarchist literature sent to him from abroad’. The report further states that the police had good information that his son Michael had join the Young Communist League whilst in Britain.

There is a further report on Jose Netto where a ‘reliable and delicate source’ had had a two hour long informal meeting. Ironically there is another transcript on an informal meeting between Jose Netto and the Deputy Governor. It was not clear whether Special Branch had used the Deputy Governor’s confidential transcript; re-written and applied a Secret status.

Joe Bossano is accused of having joined the Communist party of Great Britain. The police stated that they had checked with the security services (most probably MI5) in London to find out if this was true but they could not confirm this. It was also surprising to find a reference to a telephone conversation between Bossano and the Deputy Governor had been listened to on a ‘parallel line’. It is not clear whether parallel line meant a clear admittance of phone tapping activities either at the Covent or at the TGWU offices. The others mentioned in this report include Esteban Berllaque, Louis Martinez, and Antonio Rocca.

It was revealed that the Governor had considered the using troops during any possible industrial action. The Queens Regiments and the paratroopers were on standby. The Governor also contemplated, during 16 Dec 1974, to ‘proclaim a state of emergency’. What led the Governor to consider such an extreme response was the strength of feeling amongst Gibraltarian workers both in MoD and Gibraltar Government. It was clear from much correspondence that, from the outset, the Chief Minister, Sir Joshua Hassan did not want Gibraltar Government employees to have parity of wages and conditions of employment with UK counterparts. This was even when the Union argued that it would raise more taxes and standard of living and would further remove the threat of Spain.

The TGWU in Gibraltar sought the support of the TGWU in London and specifically Jack Jones, former General Secretary, and Harry Urwin, former assistant General Secretary, to negotiate with Roy Hattersley, former Foreign Commonwealth Secretary of State on this issue.

In fact as Hattersley was to meet with Jose he was warned that as minister he should not become a ‘court of appeal on labour matters.’ The F&CO initially argued against the campaign and argued that he [as secretary of state] did not have the ‘power to settle wage dispute’ in either the MoD or Government of Gibraltar.

The MoD argued that Gibraltar was the only dockyard overseas and it needed to be competitive or else it would close; and stated ‘if you lose your dockyard, because the Chancellor cannot afford it, are the dockyard workers prepared to work on the construction sites in Gibraltar or face unemployment’. They had also considered that parity to be extended only to MoD and not Government of Gibraltar. Nevermind the shirking of responsibilities the British Government did fear that not responding to the Union’s demands would have lead to another general strike. The F&CO were more concerned to continue negotiations and to defend Hassan. This is possibly after a special branch report stated that the ‘dispute is becoming more political in nature. The aims seems to be not so much parity but attempt to oust the Hassan administration’. The police report argued that Joe Bossano, as a founder of Integration with Britain Party, was the clear link that the threat of industrial action was politically motivated.

Another item of interest in relationship between the F&CO and Government of Gibraltar was over ‘false articles’ printed in the now defunct Evening Post newspaper. The articles stated a resounding ‘no’ to parity but ‘yes’ to new approach to resolve the issue. The F&CO knew that the Evening Post was owned by several ministers; M Featherstone, M Mascarenhas and A Montegriffo. The F&CO said the paper should have asked for legal advice before publishing. But also that if the paper’s rejection to parity claims was the line of the Gibraltar Government then it should not hide behind either the paper or British ‘HMG’ but to sort its own industrial relations problems.

The campaign was a triumph and parity survives as a key plank in the Collective bargaining across the public sector. The TGWU had a membership willing to support industrial action. Combined with good political manoeuvring by Jose Netto. Jose understood that with a labour party sympathetic to trade unions in Britain, he could use further pressure point on both the Gibraltar Government and the MoD in Gibraltar.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Equality Rights group GGR announce its "committed support and concern" for MoD workers

“Farming out MoD jobs means lower rights standards - We will stand by MoD workers”

So said Chairman Felix Alvarez's opening statement today, in a wide-ranging press release to the media from Equality Rights organisation Gibraltar Gay Rights (GGR).

It has announced its committed support and concern for MoD workers following announced contractorisation plans for the local workforce.

Chairman Felix Alvarez said:

The principle of solidarity is of paramount importance to us and we will support MoD workers in their fight against contractorisation regardless of social status and without discrimination. It is what we believe in and it is what we will fight for!

The MoD is Gibraltar’s top equality employer, providing a model for rights protection which, shamefully, is unmatched (to our knowledge) anywhere else on the Rock and which we would like to see installed throughout Gibraltar. All the more reason, therefore, why we too must be concerned at the impact the planned jobs privatisation will have on the rights of workers. Farming these jobs out of the MoD is a step backwards whichever way you look at it and it is our moral duty as an Equality organisation to stand by the ordinary people of Gibraltar on this, at the same time as we continue to unrelentlessly fight our own corner.

It is an unfortunate fact but it has to be recognised that no other employer and certainly no law in Gibraltar offers the range of equality treatment that the MOD offers its workers. For this reason, we cannot simply accept workers’ jobs being farmed out to the private sector in Gibraltar. This will mean not just a loss in security to ordinary working people, it is also a very real cutback in the quality of their employment and benefits. I am currently awaiting clarification from the Commander British Forces as to whether employment conditions and benefits currently applicable to MoD public service employees will, in effect, be transferable in the contractorisation process given the fact that there may not be statutory provisions in law for them to be covered within the Gibraltar private sector. We are also asking for him to address the question of rights to MoD workers under both EU Directive 98/50/EC and the Transfer of Undertaking Regulations 1981, which are applicable law regarding transferability of rights.

Mr Alvarez went on to state:

Pensions is one area where there are substantial inequalities between MoD provisions and Gibraltar public and private service employees, and non-transferability will hit hard particularly at heterosexual workers in common-law relationships and their families as well as gay employees in established relationships. The GGR supports Government and the T&G in their fight against Contractorisation, and whilst we are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, the question is this: can MoD minority employees similarly depend on the support of both Government and the Union in fighting for their MoD equality rights in the event of any transfer to the private sector? Or will they, yet again, be relegated to the level of the worst hit amongst all the work force? We will be looking out to see whether Messrs Caruana and Montiel treat their minority workforce with the respect, equality and concern they also deserve – or whether their needs and rights are left at the bottom of the losers pile! We have now also written to both the District and Branch Officers of the T&G expressing our support for the Union’s defence of workers’ rights and for information regarding the situation of minority MoD employees. We look forward to the Union’s response on these matters.

Gibraltar Gay Rights (GGR) - Press Release - 27 February 18:45

Opinion - Save the Bastion!

Are the Town Planners breaking their own laws? Lionel Culatto thinks so.

by Conservationist and Lawyer Lionel Culatto

This development is about 15 storeys high with a tower of over 35 storeys on the site of the old Naval grounds. This is not allowed by the Gibraltar Development Plan. Policy H9 for example says that housing developments "will be expected to be sympathetic to the scale and character of the surroundings….." Many people have rightly objected to the construction of this monstrosity right next to the old town.

However, much more serious because of its permanent destructive effect are the plans for The King's Bastion. Policy OTT4 of the Gibraltar Development Plan states that "permission for developments which adversely affect the character of the historic town walls will be refused". The plans envisage much destruction of the interior of the Bastion including the uniquely designed gorge. It proposes a creation of a new upper floor covered by a dome. The plans do not only destroy large parts of the building, they also completely destroy its integrity. This is a listed ancient monument supposedly protected by the law. It is part of Gibraltar's application for world heritage status.

Why is this being done? Quite simply to create at least ten lanes of ten pin bowling. Whilst there might be such a demand for ten pin bowling and I make no comment on this, surely another site could be used for this; the 19 storey King’s Wharf perhaps or even the one billion pound east side leisure development.

The King’s Bastion should be restored making the most of its three centuries of heritage, creating a leisure and heritage centre complimentary to its history, and once more becoming the icon it once was and one of the symbols of the Gibraltarian identity. Before Lord Foster came along, we had our own icons and one of these is The King's Bastion. For years the people of Gibraltar have been denied access to this building and it has been left derelict. This is no excuse to destroy it even more. This is a real opportunity for the Government to do the right thing, restore the Bastion and open it to the public for everyone's enjoyment and for Gibraltar's economic benefit. This opportunity must not be lost.

In considering this application, I hope the Planning Commission is fully aware of the historic significance of this Bastion.

The Funicular Development will impact drastically on Gibraltar's North Front. This consists of Grand Battery and associated works with Landport Ditch, the Glacis and the Inundation (or Laguna) with the enfilading Northern Defences.

The West Front of the town stretches from Orange Bastion to South Bastion, and in the early 18th Century the Line Wall between the two Bastions was the old irregular medieval wall with occasional small gun platforms. Beyond this wall lay the sea. With no strong Battery this front was very weak. This dangerous situation was thankfully remedied by Sir William Green.

William Green was born in 1725 and was chief engineer of Gibraltar from 1761 to 1783. He married the daughter of another successful military engineer, Justly Watson, who had been present in Gibraltar with his father Jonas during the 1727 Siege. Green's son, Colonel Justly Watson Green was "military preceptor" to Queen Victoria's father, the Duke of Kent. The Duke was a Governor of Gibraltar. Green's wife, Miriam who wrote a diary of her experiences during the Great Siege, died in 1782 after catching a chill in a bombproof on the Rock. Green died in 1811, his son died around 1828.

Green's time in Gibraltar was not wasted. He improved the fortifications and also created the "Soldiers Artificers Company". In his report of 1770, he recommended remedial and new works and these were implemented by this Company of Artificers and amounted to about 30 million pounds in today's money.

By far the most important of the works was The King's Bastion. This powerful Bastion placed in the Line Wall between Orange and South Bastion, transformed the very weak west front. It was designed by Green with the assistance of General Boyd, the Lieutenant Governor.

During the Great Siege, it served as Eliott's command post. Without it, it is unlikely that Gibraltar would have been able to withstand the attack of the Spanish "Junk ships" in September 1782. So important was that event that the artist Copley chose it as the subject of his picture, which now hangs in the Guildhall library. This picture showing Eliott and his officers standing on The King's Bastion during this attack is so huge and impressive that the new Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London was effectively built around it.

The King's Bastion played such an important part in the Great Siege of 1779 - 1783 that it was chosen as the place to celebrate the victory and to invest Elliot with the Knighthood of the Bath. As Drinkwater says "that the Honours might be conferred where Victory was gained".

The day chosen for the celebrations was St George's Day 23rd April 1783. For the occasion the Bastion was decorated with a colonnade. There was even a fireworks display.

The Lieutenant Governor during the Siege, General Boyd, was so fond of Gibraltar and so proud of the Bastion that on his instructions he was buried in a lighting passage on the right face of The Bastion. His tomb remains there to this day.

Green eventually became Chief Engineer of England, was promoted to Major General, received the thanks of Parliament (the first engineer to do so), and was created a Baronet. More importantly, by creating the artificers he transformed the Corps of Engineers. This he did in Gibraltar.

He was a great man and although not born here surely also a great Gibraltarian. His greatest permanent work in Gibraltar is undoubtedly The King's Bastion where in the Great Siege "Victory was gained".

Having just celebrated 300 years of British Gibraltar, it is somewhat cynical that this Government wants to destroy the very building that kept Gibraltar British all those years ago. Such wanton destruction is a dishonour to the memory of its architects, Green and Boyd.

Major General Sir William Green Bt spent 22 years of his life tirelessly working as he put it "to preserve one of the first fortresses in Europe from even an Enemy's mediating an insult". The Enemy did mediate an insult but thanks to The King's Bastion they were sent packing.

These plans for The King's Bastion are not the action of a Government committed to heritage. They are an insult and an outrage.

The foundation stone of King's Bastion was laid in 1773 by Boyd.

It is not just a huge Battery, it also had bombproof casemates for 800 men (for part of the Great Siege occupied by the 73rd (Highland) Regiment, later (1810) the Highland Light Infantry, and in 1959 with amalgamation the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

In the 1840s, as part of the recommendations of Sir John Jones, two stories of defensible barracks were built in the gorge.

In the 1870s, following the recommendations of Colonel WFD Jervois, the faces of the Bastion were re-constructed to take four 18 ton 10 inch RMLs and one 38 ton 12.5 inch RML. These guns are still there as are also some of the rare rope mantlets and other fittings.

During the 20th Century the roof of the RML Battery was used for various guns and searchlights, the last military use being as a saluting battery in the 1950s.

From the 1900s the Bastion was used for the generation of electric light, and later a new generating station to the designs of N Langdon were added to the north of the right flank.

Apart from its memorable involvement in the Great Siege, the Bastion has had a very interesting military history over 3 centuries. Furthermore, for most of its life the Bastion was the home of numerous regiments sent to Gibraltar to defend us. The Bastion also has an industrial history as for most of the 20th Century it supplied electric light to the civilian population .

Although the Bastion has lain uncared for some time, fortune has conspired to ensure that it is in a remarkably good condition and there are sufficient elements of its history remaining to warrant a restoration and conversion to an award winning heritage/leisure centre.

This development was made public in the "Gibraltar Chronicle" on 16th December 2004, a Government spokesman saying that the works at The King's Bastion would be commencing in June 2005. This was even before the formal planning application was advertised. There are even rumours circulating that this and the other big developments have all been announced at about the same time to confuse the Public. Why we need such a rush of developments at this particular time quite eludes me especially when the Chief Minister has said recently and I quote "the economy of Gibraltar has never in the entire history of Gibraltar, been more prosperous and successful than it is today".

Surprisingly, the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, although vociferous in its opposition to the funicular, has not to my knowledge come out publicly against this development.

For this Development to go ahead, the Government would need to give authority or licence after consultation and advice from the Trust. I can see no valid reason why the trustees, as protectors of our heritage and in accordance with their duties under the Gibraltar Heritage Ordinance could possibly approve of this wanton destruction. Indeed the Governor can not give a licence if the integrity of the Bastion would be impaired, which it obviously is.

With a new chairman, it would be timely for the trustees to assert their independence and allay the fears of its members and the Public, and to publicly state their total opposition to this project. This is important because, contrary to normal practice elsewhere in the civilised world, the meetings of the Planning Commission are secret and not held in public.

I smell a rat. I see a fait accompli. I hope I am wrong. I pray that the members of the Planning Commission will act independently.

"For too long in Gibraltar, important and potentially controversial projects had been approved by governments and DPC behind closed doors and presented as a "fait accompli" when all decisions had already been made. The open planning process that we introduced was designed to avoid precisely this".

These are the words of the Chief Minister in his speech of the 28th January 2005 to the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses. Has anything changed? Will anything change? Or will our land and our inheritance be once again sold for a shortsighted political gain and the wrong economic benefit? We shall have to wait and see.


First published in the Gibraltar Chronicle - Opinion - 8 February 2005

Real Madrid stars set to sue Internet Gaming Companies

Gibraltar firms included in list

Top Spanish soccer club Real Madrid said on Friday it and several of its top players are taking legal action against online betting firms over what it alleges is unauthorised use of its name and players’ images.

Star players Ronaldo, David Beckham, Raul, Zinedine Zidane and Figo are joining the club in the legal action, Real Madrid said in a statement.

They are taking action against British-based Ladbrokes, William Hill, Sportingbet PLC and Sporting Exchange Ltd as well as BAW International Ltd of Gibraltar and Malta-based Mr Bookmaker.com.

Unspecified legal steps had already been launched in France, Belgium and Germany against these companies, it said. The club wants the companies to stop using the images and to “repair the harm caused”.

In recent years, we have seen spectacular growth of sports betting activities organised by companies that operate on the Internet, the club’s statement said.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said the group sourced the images on its website from a reputable supplier who they believed had authorisation.

What they are saying is not very clear, but we’ll watch with interest and defend our position robustly. We have no plans to change the way we take bets.

Real Madrid alleged that the companies used the name of Real Madrid and the majority of its players without authorisation and that they often used photographs and drawings of these footballers wearing the kit and badge of Real Madrid.

In most countries, legislation rigorously protects the rights to the name and image of people and companies, it said.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

No political motives in cuts says Command Secretary

TGWU accuse MoD of “threatening gesture”

TGWU has accused the Ministry of Defence of trying to muzzle the workforce in the current dispute over local contractorisation plans. Speaking to the Chronicle the Union declared that the posting of armed GSP personnel at key points around Gibraltar including car-searches in the area of Chilton Court yesterday, could be interpreted as a “threatening gesture by the MoD.”

Meanwhile, Phil Mallion, Command Secretary, has stated categorically that there are no political motives behind the MoD job privatisation decision. He said so during an interview with GBC on Friday in which he was asked if the move had been in response to the rejection of joint sovereignty.

This is a question of economics. I have been aware of the conspiracy theories as they develop during the week. It is frustrating. This is an MoD economic decision in pursuance of best values for money. It needs to review its services, he said.

The loyalty of Gibraltar to MoD is undeniable but that cannot mean for MoD that we cannot look at our support services and functions and do what we need to improve our value for money. MoD is about defence and it needs to focus on its core services and its core business. Things that it needs to do and is good at doing.

The Command secretary said that for decades the MoD had been looking at contractorising non-core services and getting people to provide what they do well and that the MoD does not do well.

Mr Mallion also revealed that those sections identified for transfer will not be able to opt for an early retirement package although this might be available to some of those people who remain in MoD. Money had been identified for this purpose, he said. That would be looked at next year and MoD would be prepared to talk to the union about early exit packages.

He admitted that the changes planned affect 30% of the workforce and are significant so they were entitled to feel concerned.

We understand that concern which is why it is so important for us to work with the staff and the trade unions to ensure they are clear as to what is happening to them and they understand the implications, he said.

Mr Mallion said it was important that their rights are protected in the transfer to a contractor. He rejected the suggestions that MoD was unwilling to talk to the unions and said that CBF had had two meetings and that the door is open.

The door swings both ways,” he said but he stressed that MoD stands by its decision on the 300 jobs. “We need to talk to the unions about the implications of that change to the staff.

On the advice to personnel to be cautious Mr Mallion said he recognised that this is an emotional issue.

Quite clearly the leaking is unfortunate and the wording may have been unfortunate. The MoD acts in a uniform way to areas and incidents where there might be a volatile reaction. CBF has a duty to see that we minimise the opportunity for confrontation. It is a preventative measure.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

TGWU Factions ‘bury the hatchet’

Nursing section dispute - TGWU yesterday announced that the “unfortunate” discrepancies that existed between the Union leadership and the caretaker Nursing Section committee have been resolved and that any further differences will be discussed internally.

In a statement the Union said they had now agreed to resume talks with the Gibraltar Health Authority management on the pending claims issue, “in order to find a satisfactory solution.”

A TGWU spokesman said:

Branch Officer Charles Sisarello and District Chairman John Cabezutto met Michael Netto and the rest of the committee, and both sides agreed the negative effect that the public airing of our disagreements was having on the members. We have now agreed to discuss any further differences within the organisation.

The role of the TGWU officers and that of the Nursing Committee have been clearly defined. When we have concrete proposals and having reached a stage of no progress in the negotiations, we will meet with the members affected for a decision on the matter.

Once this situation has been clarified we look forward to the future with the hope of establishing the need that the Union has to speak with one voice. We regret any inconvenience caused to the Union membership during this unfortunate episode and will shortly be announcing an election for a new Nursing Section Committee.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Spanish workers react to MoD

Spanish workers in Gibraltar have declared that they are not prepared to “beg for jobs in third world conditions.”

The statement by their representative body ASCTEG came in response by declarations by the Chief Minister that contractorised jobs from MoD may go to Spanish workers.

A spokesman said that Spanish workers come to Gibraltar out of necessity and would rather be employed at home. They said that in some cases Social Security is so much better in Spain that some prefer to be on the dole there. But the group said that Social Insurance contributions on the Rock are, in turn, considerably higher.

On the remark that the work might go to Spanish workers the spokesman also said that it would make more sense for MoD to employ the cheapest labour on the market – Bulgarians, Rumanians and Portugese on short contracts.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Montegriffo criticises "unacceptable" delays in waiting list for specialist

Gibraltar Health Authority hitch

GSLP/Libs has accused the Gibraltar Government of failing to take appropriate action to prevent the passing on of many of the problems that affected the old hospital to the new St Bernard’s complex at Europort.

In a statement issued yesterday Opposition spokeswoman for Health Mari Montegriffo drew attention to the “totally unacceptable” case of an elderly person who was told she would have to wait between 12 and 18 months before seeing a specialist. Ms Montegriffo said:

We have been approached by the relatives of an elderly patient, who wish us to make the case public. Their mother was admitted to hospital on December 23 last, as she could hardly walk. After a series of tests, the family were informed that her problem would have to be seen to by an Orthopaedic Specialist. However, she was discharged and subsequently had to go to the Primary Care Centre, to be referred to such a Specialist.

A GP then wrote a letter of referral to the Gibraltar Health Authority and recently the patient received a card by post from the Hospital Outpatients Department confirming that the referral letter from her GP at the Primary Care Centre to see the Orthopaedic Surgeon had been received. It goes on to say that the waiting time is “between 12 and 18 months”, and therefore she would be receiving “an appointment nearer to the date of her appointment.

We have been constantly asking the Government in the House of Assembly to provide us with the waiting list both for out-patients and in-patients. The lists, especially in Orthopaedics have been extremely high. In the last meeting in December 2004, we were informed that for out-patients there are two weeks for cases requiring attention soon, and seven months for routine cases. Clearly the list has not only increased, but during all of these past years, the Government has not taken heed of our warnings, and have done nothing to reverse the situation. That the Government should be telling us that they intend to employ more medical practitioners is not good enough. What we need is less promises and quicker action.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Minister Holliday reveals - Two-pronged strategy to attract business to Gibraltar

by PANORAMA reporter

The Government is to launch a new initiative to attract investment to Gibraltar, it is revealed in the magazine Gibraltar Shipping Showcase which has just been published.

To be known as 'InvestGibraltar', the project is dedicated to encouraging, promoting and facilitating private sector development and investments, said Minister for Trade, Industry and Communications Joe Holliday.

The department is spearheaded by five members of staff, with Julian Baldachino as the senior InvestGibraltar manager. He said:

As a matter of priority, Minister Holliday wants to ensure that Gibraltar administrative procedures and functions are seen to be efficient and effective.

The aim is to create a working environment in which the private sector is able to prosper.

The team's mission is to "boost Gibraltar's profile as a quality jurisdiction in which to transact business," explained Mr Holliday. He added:

I have a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand I intend to market Gibraltar in the international marketplace as a jurisdiction in which to do business...The other limb is to assist and support business enterprises that are already established in Gibraltar in order to expand and diversify their interests in Gibraltar.

His chief executive officer Richard Garcia said:

Business is often being lost to other jurisdictions simply because investors are not fully aware of the potential Gibraltar affords as a base for investment.

The target date to get the scheme going is in early April.

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

Panorama launches major project to promote Gibraltar's port and shipping world

A new initiative to promote Gibraltar's port and shipping has just been launched. It is the 'Gibraltar Shipping Showcase', which consists of a full-colour printed edition, an online edition and updates.

The printed edition is supported by Gibraltar's maritime community and the Gibraltar Government which will use it as part of their promotion of the port. It is also being made available at international shipping conferences and trade shows.

At the same time there has been simultaneous publication in the Singapore Business Times of a Gibraltar shipping special, to reach the important Asian market.

A dedicated website has also been set up. It will be updated throughout the year.

The Gibraltar Shipping Showcase is part of Panorama Publishing. Editor Joe Garcia said that with the printed edition, online edition and updates, the project provides year-round exposure to Gibraltar's port and shipping world.

Reports included range from cruise ships to bunkering, and from ship registry to Gibraltar as a centre for shipping and trade.

Port minister Joe Hollidaywrites that "Gibraltar is fast developing as a broadly based international maritime centre".

From Panorama, Gibraltar's Online Daily Newspaper

Bossano backs Unions in fight to stop defence cuts

MoD privatisation row - Gibraltar operates by local rule book not UK, says GSLP leader

F Oliva reports

Leader of the Opposition Joe Bossano has warned the Ministry of Defence to make a tactical withdrawal from its current position “instead of being defeated in public which is what will happen to them.”

Speaking at a press conference in the party offices, Mr Bossano was in confident mood and said the GSLP/Libs will be politically supporting the Unions for as long as they fight the contractorisation agenda.

Mr Bossano who was joined by representatives of the Gibraltar Trades Council, also accused the MoD of acting in a take it or leave it manner that was “unnecessarily brusque and insulting”.

The GSLP/Libs leader stated that policy decisions such as the one taken by the British Government can be altered, and expressed a message of confidence that this dispute can be won.

“The MoD ought to have learned from their experience that we are a hard nut to crack,” he declared.

Mr Bossano, a former leading trade unionist, was also asked to comment on the political implications for the continued existence of a military base in Gibraltar, following TGWU remarks that they would not accept a military base without jobs. He adopted a more cautious approach and said that the Ministry of Defence should be in Gibraltar on the basis that they employ direct labour and not through contractors.

Mr Bossano further stated that there was a big step between this and telling them to get out, and noted that the MoD themselves could suggest this unless they were permitted to do what they want. He further explained that their position was that Gibraltar is a separate country to UK, that Gibraltar is the host and the MoD have to operate by our rules not by theirs. In Britain, he continued, these rules are drawn up by British politicians and British electorate, while in Gibraltar it is the local politicians and electorate that determine the rules. Mr Bossano was firm on this point and stated that if the MoD could not live by the local rule book, “it was a matter for them.”

The Leader of the Opposition said the manner in which the MoD has gone about this announcement, and from their previous dealings with the Union, showed that they were under no illusions of what the Union reaction would be. Mr Bossano said that if the MoD had sought an agreement to transfer the workforce to a contractor without guarantees, “the Union would have told them what to do with it.”

Mr Bossano argued that there was no precedent for the MoD decision since they were saying that they still needed the work done but at a cheaper price, having the same workforce employed by someone else with worse conditions. He said this was also open to interpretation since it could be suggested that it was an admission by the MoD that the problem was one of “lousy management” that needed to be changed.

In reply to questions, Mr Bossano said there were parallels with the dockyard closure of 1984 and that there were already signs of what was coming in the Defence White Paper of 1980 where the reduction in military presence was already set out.

‘Similarities with Joint Sovereignty Deal’

There are similarities between the MoD dispute and the Joint Sovereignty proposals of 2002 even in the language used by Chief Minister Peter Caruana who referred to the contractorisation decision as “a done deal”, said Mr Bossano in answer to questions. Continuing with the analogy, Mr Bossano argued that what Mr Caruana objected to was the done deal, while he was opposed to the joint sovereignty deal.

I will still have rejected it if 99% of the population had been in favour, just as I would be against the contractorisation even if the Union had supported it.

The Leader of the Opposition also stated that the contractorisation would be de-railed and that this was both “realistic and attainable.”

Mr Bossano also hypothesised on what could happen in the future if the contractorisation process went ahead, and warned that the military base ‘red-line’ could then be uprooted since it was far easier for contractors to be “switched off.”

Mr Bossano added that in such hypothetical circumstances the GSLP/Libs would continue to support the Gibraltar Regiment and arrive at a situation where it could become necessary to re-draft the constitution and assume responsibilities for defence as well.

Responding to questions from GBC (Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation) whether the contractorisation could be interpreted as pay-back time for the rejection of the 2002 joint sovereignty deal, Mr Bossano gave an open reply but noted that the Spanish expectation was that some day in the future in the right climate it could advance its position, but remarked that Spain would first of all have to get its act together, in reference to the public disagreements expressed between the Mancomunidad and the Junta de Andalucia, on the scope of agreements with the Gibraltar Government.

As regards Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, Mr Bossano said that having been such a welcome figure in Gibraltar for breaking ranks with the Blair Government at the time of the joint sovereignty deal, he was now “on course for competing for the kind of treatment we gave Peter Hain and Secretary of State for Foriegn & Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw when they came here.”
The Opposition met with the Commander British Forces yesterday morning to learn first hand from him what is planned and to make clear its own position.
“There is already an avalanche of outside workers who dominate many parts of the private sector. The only area of employment where the workforce is almost 100% local and where there is long-term security of employment is in the public sector and Government owned companies,” said the Opposition adding that it considers that the only option open to the Unions from day one has been either to capitulate to this imposition and seek to negotiate better terms or to reject it outright and prevent the contractor from taking over come 1st January 2006. The Unions have clearly embarked on the second course and this therefore raises political questions and well as matters of industrial relations, said the GSLP/Libs.

The Opposition are of the view that if the principle is conceded now then it will only be a matter of time before the rest of the MoD jobs go the same way as the first 300.
At yesterday morning’s meeting the MoD confirmed to them that it was going into this with their eyes open but had no room for manoeuvre, the decision has been taken in London and all the consequences factored in.
The Opposition said it believes that the one consequence that has not been factored in is that we have the ability to prevent the ISP contract from being fulfilled and that is “what can and must be done.”
“The UK Government would do better to retreat at this stage with some dignity instead of having to be made to retreat on this one as they were on the Brussels Sovereignty negotiations.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Labour Party warning on culture of “hire and fire”

Local Labour Party yesterday told the Gibraltar Trades Council that the MoD workforce could count with their unconditional support in the dispute over contractorisation.

A spokesman said:

“This will result in a hire and fire culture giving instability to the local workforce and labour market. This culture will also allow the contractors to employ foreign labour as they please on less than favourable conditions with the consequent squeeze on local labour. The loss of jobs are also a blow to the Gibraltar economy at a time when there is increasing pressure on our finance centre from the European Union and Spain. It is regrettable given the consequences for Gibraltar, that there has been no prior consultation with the Unions or the workforce. The UK Government has a political obligation to Gibraltar that goes beyond that of a good employer. It is not honouring that obligation”.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Bossano defends culture of “job for life”

Joe Bossano yesterday made an impassioned defence of the need to fight for and protect the culture of “the job for life,” and called on the Unions to persist in their defence of this concept “because it is good for their members.”

Mr Bossano said that job insecurity in Gibraltar was increasing and undermining the above. The MoD contractorisation, he continued, was not about the impact to the economy which he believed could absorb this, but how it would affect the people concerned and additionally, how jobs were being lost in one of the only two areas of employment locally – the other being the Gibraltar Government – where you could find guarantees of conditions and security of employment.

He said the MoD crisis was a “massive blow” in terms of an area where the Gibraltarian composition of the workforce (90%) was predominant.

He also described as astronomical the proportion of 5,000 private sector jobs in the economy, where the job for life does not exist and outsiders accounted for 60% of the jobs, in relation to the 9,000 in the public sector.

Mr Bossano added that the British Government was getting away with worse things in UK and it was becoming “increasingly difficult to distinguish Tory Policy from new Labour policy.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

TGWU/ACTS & Prospect Team to defy ‘fait accompli’

Leaders of the main unions TGWU/ACTS and Prospect have joined their forces as one against the MoD decision to privatise jobs and have written to Allan Adair, Commander British Forces to put him on notice.

Union sources made clear to the Chronicle yesterday that they are now in a state of dispute with MoD. And there are plans to gradually escalate within a strategy likely to start with a mass demonstration and petitions.

However, activists have vowed that they will not – whatever the upshot - allow contractors to be brought in from outside putting at risk the local jobs.

In their letter to the CBF the unions state:

The Trade Unions now officially inform you that due to the recent announcement made by the Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram, on Thursday 10th February 2005, to the Chief Minister, Peter Caruana QC, the Trade Unions can no longer sit at a forum specifically designed in the UK for consultation and adopted in Gibraltar, when the MoD has used a “fait accompli” and ignored both National and Local consultative procedures.

For the past 2 weeks, the Trade Unions have conveyed to you, that we have an open door to dialogue. Command has taken the stance of not walking through that door.

Meanwhile, some sectors are already taking limited action. The Defence Fire services continue to be on standby for emergencies but are refusing to carry out non-essential tasks.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

PSOE-PP row over Gibraltar continues

Members of Spanish Government and Opposition continue to row over the current Gibraltar tripartite talks process.

In debate in the Andalucian parliament PSOE spokesman Gaspar Zarrias expressed full support for the central government’s policy on talks. He highlighted the fact that the finance centre in Gibraltar is to lose “unfair advantages” by 2010. He also said that co-operation will help eliminate old prejudices.

But PP spokesman Antonio Sanz decried as an historical reverse and “humiliation” the setting up of tripartite talks where Gibraltar has a veto. He said that this also puts in question the resolutions at the UN.

In a heated contribution he went on to accuse the PSOE of mollycoddling Gibraltarians at the expense of the people of the Campo and declared this to be “an historic error”.

Sr Zarrias retorted that the PSOE had not given up on one iota of sovereignty but he said that dialgue would triumph for the benefit of citizens on both sides of the border. He also claimed that unlike the PP the PSOE had succeeded in dismantling the “tax haven”.

The joke and humiliation for Spain he said had been Aznar who had “crawled before Bush” and had now “been sent home where he belongs.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

GibTelecom donates big screens for young patients

The children’s Rainbow Ward at the new St Bernard’s Hospital has been presented with two 42 inch wide-screen plasma televisions by Gibtelecom.

This follows on from the Company having donated 68 telephones to the Elderly Care Agency at Mount Alvernia and a further 220 to be used in the new hospital as bedside phones. The presentation was attended by Rahul Saxena, a Director of Gibtelecom and Vice President (Europe) for Verizon Communications, which part-owns Gibtelecom along with the Government of Gibraltar.

The two locally-bought giant televisions were officially presented to Sister Mary Sene of Rainbow Ward and young Amy Cataña (representing the young patients) by Fabian Vinet
in his capacity as Chairman of Gibtelecom.

Commenting that he spoke from experience having himself been a hospital patient as a child, albeit at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, he said that it was always important to try and make a patient’s stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible, but that this was particularly important when dealing with children. Mr Vinet added that the staff already perform a wonderful job but that the two new televisions would hopefully make children’s stay that little bit more bearable. Earlier he had commented that this was another opportunity for Gibtelecom to give something back to the community.

Also attending the presentation were Minister for Health, Ernest Britto, a former Chairman of Gibtelecom; the new Chief Executive of the GHA Dr. McCutcheon; Managing Director of Gibtelecom, Charles Fortunato and Customer Services Manager, Peter Borge.

Gibtelecom, who provided the cabling, phone system, data equipment and network at the hospital, laid a total of 150km of copper wire and 10km of fibre cable during their work.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Traffic Information

In order to allow a contractor to lift heavy components onto the roof of Leanse Place, the area in front of Leanse Place at the southern end of Town Range, will be closed to traffic as from 10am on Sunday for a maximum of six hours.

Traffic wishing to access the upper town area, including bus route No 2, will be diverted via Trafalgar interchange onto Prince Edward’s Road. Access to St Jago’s parking and Leanse Place garage, will be via Hargraves, which will be made two-way whilst the works are in progress.

Drivers are urged to take extra caution whilst travelling from Hargraves to St Jago’s or Leanse Place. Traffic signs will be used accordingly to advise drivers.

Due to the refurbishment works currently being undertaken at Loreto Convent School, the north bound traffic lane will be narrowed by one metre as from Monday 28 February 2005 for two weeks. Traffic flow will continue to flow as normal but will be managed with priority signs due to the narrowing of the road. Drivers are requested to drive with care along this section of Europa Road.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

5,000 Signatures and counting in opposition to Funicular

The signature collection campaign conducted by the Joint Platform (ESG, Gibraltar Heritage Trust & GONHS) in opposition to the proposed Funicular project has so far been resoundingly successful, its organisers said yesterday.

They said that a very large majority of people approached so far have shown themselves to be against this potentially disastrous project, and well in excess of 5,000 signatures have been collected to the present.

“This clearly demonstrates the magnitude of opposition to the Funicular amongst Gibraltarians. Our campaign to demonstrate the very obvious overall public rejection of the Funicular will continue for as long as the project proposal remains on the table.

Since a large percentage of the population has not yet been approached and most housing estates have still to be visited, we are confident that our final result will comfortably exceed an overall electoral majority,” they said urging support.

Meanwhile their campaign around housing estates and around the town centre will continue.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

RG Soldier wins Recruiting Award

Colour Sergeant Winston Payas of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment recently attended a Regular Recruiters Course at the joint Royal Naval and Army Schools of Recruiting. On completion of the course he was awarded the Whistler Shield.

This is an award given by the Army School of Recruiting to the student assessed as having made the greatest improvement over the duration of the course.

The Chief Instructor of the Army School of Recruiting said, “He is to be congratulated on achieving a good pass on what is a very hard course, especially given his previous unfamiliarity with the recruiting system. He is more than capable of taking his place in any recruiting office in the country and has loads of ideas for new approaches to recruiting on the Rock. He has been an excellent ambassador for the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.”

Colour Sergeant Payas will now move on from his previous appointment in HQ Company (Thompson’s Battery) and take up a new job as the Regiment’s recruiting Senior NCO, where he will spearhead the Regiment’s latest recruiting drive.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Caruana pledges full support for Union campaign against MoD “done deal”

Gibraltar Government joins defence privatisation row - Plan is regressive for Gibraltar – Chief Minister Peter Caruana

Chief Minister Peter Caruana yesterday declared that the MoD's announced contractorisation plans are "unacceptable" and will be opposed by the Gibraltar Government.

Speaking at a press conference at Convent Place, Mr Caruana said they were severely damaging to the Rock, economically and socially and further described them as "excessive and disproportionate."

"The Government will take all steps that it lawfully and reasonably can to impede and counteract this regressive plan for Gibraltar," said the Chief Minister while pledging his full support for the trade union opposition to the MoD contractorisation.

Mr Caruana also announced a series of legislative and fiscal measures with significant financial impact on potential contractors, and designed to "minimise the social impact in Gibraltar of the MoD's job loss plans should these go ahead in their present form."

In a hard hitting statement Mr Caruana accused the Ministry of Defence of seeking to impose its 'done-deal' "unilaterally" without prior negotiations with the Unions, and acting "in a cavalier fashion." He also said the MoD were using the term 'efficiency savings' as "a deception, a mere mask for saving money at the expense of valuable jobs and conditions of employment."

Mr Caruana also called on all sectors of the community to unite in their backing of the workers and trade unions affected, and stated that in a frontier economy there is a grave risk that jobs in the military base presently held by locals "will be lost and replaced by jobs for non-residents."

The Chief Minister also noted the loss of employment opportunities for young people as a result of the MoD cuts, and how these translate into loss of PAYE revenue for the Government and probably increased expenditure in social assistance payments.

Meanwhile Mr Caruana formally called on the MoD to engage the Unions in meaningful and sincere negotiations to achieve "a reasonable degree of real efficiency improvements." He added:

While the Government accepts that Gibraltar cannot be exempted from cutbacks that affect the whole MoD around the world and in the UK, the plans for Gibraltar are excessive and disproportionate and represent more than our share of the pain.

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

MoD: Contractorisation and job cut announcement

Full Statement by Chief Minister Peter Caruana

On the 10th February 2005, Mr Adam Ingram the Armed Forces Minister, met the Chief Minister during his visit to Gibraltar. Mr Ingram outlined MoD's reorganisation plans in Gibraltar.

On 14th February the Chief Minister met union officials to brief them on what he had been told by Mr Ingram. On the same day the Government issued a public statement saying that a full statement would be issued by Government after MoD had briefed the unions and the unions and government had met. This has now occurred.

In that statement the Government also expressed its firm opposition to the contractorisation plan and the direct or indirect exportation of local MOD jobs.
The MOD's announced plans are severely damaging to Gibraltar, economically and socially. They are thus unacceptable to the Government which is committed to opposing those plans and to take such appropriate measures as it can to impede the plan and to minimise their economic and social impact, if they are put into effect in the form and in the high handed manner announced by the MOD.

The MoD's Plan

The MOD has simply announced its intentions as a "fait accompli" or "done deal". The MOD has just over 1000 civilian employees in Gibraltar. The MOD's plans envisage the contractorisation of about 600 out of the 1000 jobs, followed by the loss of an unknown number of those 600 jobs by the contractors after the staff is transferred. About 300 jobs could be lost in this way. In addition the MOD plans an unspecified number of cuts in the remaining 400 jobs that would be left in the MOD.
There are several aspects of the MOD's plans, each of which should be separately understood.

1. The "Done Deal"

It is unacceptable that the MOD should simply announce a "fait accompli" without any prior consultation or negotiations with local trade unions. This is not an acceptable way for the MOD to do business in Gibraltar or anywhere else. The Government has no doubt that the MOD would not behave in this cavalier fashion in the UK. Accordingly, the Government formally calls on the MOD to abandon its plan to unilaterally try to impose these measures, and instead to engage local trade unions in a meaningful and sincere negotiation to achieve a reasonable degree of real "efficiency improvements" in a negotiated, agreed and acceptable manner.

Whilst the Government accepts that Gibraltar cannot be exempted from cutbacks that affect the whole MOD around the world and in the UK, the plans for Gibraltar are excessive and disproportionate and represent more than our share of the pain.
Regardless of any issue of contractorisation or job losses, the presentation of this 'fait accompli', without negotiation, is unacceptable and by itself justifies that all sectors of the community in Gibraltar should unite in support of the workers and trade unions affected. The Government has informed Trade Unions of its full support for their opposition to the plans.