Gozo Channel, is facing a labor dispute as its employees began an industrial action on Wednesday. The UĦM Voice of the Workers, the union representing the employees, claims that the company has been unresponsive in negotiating a new collective agreement for over two years, despite the previous agreement expiring two-and-a-half years ago. As a means of pushing the company to address their concerns, the union has ordered various actions that are likely to impact the daily operations of Gozo Channel.

Employees have been instructed not to answer radio, VHF, and telephone calls. This deliberate lack of response is likely to cause disruptions in communication between the ferry staff and other relevant parties, such as port authorities, emergency services, and customers seeking information or assistance.

Terminal officers and coordinators have been directed to scan tickets near the ship ramp rather than when vehicles enter the marshalling area. This change in ticket scanning protocols could lead to delays in the boarding process and potential congestion near the ship ramp area. Passengers should prepare for longer waiting times and possible confusion during the embarkation process.

Sailors involved in the industrial action have been instructed not to operate the side ramp, which is commonly used by passengers to board the ferry from the main deck. As a result, passengers will be required to enter the ship from the garage area. This modification in boarding procedures may inconvenience passengers, particularly those with mobility challenges or heavy luggage, as they navigate through the lower decks instead of using the more accessible side ramp.

In an additional measure, embarkation will commence seven minutes after the last vehicle from the previous trip has disembarked. This change may cause delays in the overall departure schedule, resulting in passengers experiencing longer waiting periods before boarding the ferry.

The UĦM Voice of the Workers has explicitly stated that it reserves the right to escalate the industrial action if the company does not address their concerns promptly. While the current actions have already caused inconvenience to passengers, there remains a possibility of further disruptions if negotiations between the union and Gozo Channel do not progress satisfactorily.

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