Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/798939
3 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 15 MARCH 2017 News National Enterprise Support Awards 2017 Prize Fund: €50,000 and nomination for the prestigious competition: European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2017 Who Can Apply: Organisations that Support Entrepreneurship Including: Local Councils, Ministries, Government Departments, Public Authorities and Entities, Public-Private Partnerships, Business Organisations, NGOs, Public Educational Institutions, Public and Church Schools, University of Malta (Faculties, Institutes and Departments), Trade Unions, Professional Associations. Deadline to submit applications: Friday 14 th April 2017 (Noon) More information: tel: 2569 0310/2569 0350 email: nesa.commerce@gov.mt web: www.commerce.gov.mt National Enterprise Support Awards Broadcasting Authority chairperson faces calls for resignation YANNICK PACE BROADCASTING Authority employees are staging industrial action over a dispute with the authority's chairperson, Tanya Borg Cardona. The industrial action started off with a one-hour walkout, after which employees will not be answering phones or emails or monitoring current events as they normally do among other actions being taken, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin said. Addressing a press conference outside the BA building, UHM president Josef Vella said that there was a clear problem with the management, and the work- ers were suffering at their ex- pense. According to the UHM, the workers have been described as "superf luous" by the manage- ment. "There have been instanc- es where the workers have been bullied," he said. The workers – while open to the idea of moving office – are opposing the move to Valletta, where office space is signifi- cantly smaller than their cur- rent place and the building is not adequate for the authority. Vella hit out at the BA's man- agement, accusing it of creating a work environment that was not conducive to a healthy work- place where workers can carry out their work serenely. Vella pointed out that while employ- ees were being told they were extra, the BA was paying Borg Cardona €6,000 a year for her to use her own car, all while the authority had its own car and was leasing a second. "It is particularly concerning, especially when one takes into consideration the important role carried out by the Broad- casting Authority, now more than ever. The country is gear- ing up for an election and the authority's work is invaluable to the nation," Vella said. Vella said that a number of letters had been written by the union on behalf of the workers, including one to the Prime Min- ister. "We got a reply last month but nothing seems to have happened since then… if anything it's get- ting worse," Vella said. While the industrial action is effective immediately, the UHM did not exclude taking further measures if the situation is not resolved. The letter signed by all author- ity employees represented by the union was sent to Prime Minis- ter Joseph Muscat and noted that they were being kept in the dark over the move. Workers are not against moving but they are concerned about the adequacy of the Valletta building. The employees complained of the attitude and incompe- tence in the broadcasting sector shown by the authority's polit- ically-appointed chairperson, Tanya Borg Cardona, "which makes it impossible to work with her." In his reply, the Prime Min- ister, who appointed Borg Car- dona in 2013 said that the au- thority is a Constitutional body which regulates itself. While acknowledging that he is "aware of the workers' con- cerns" Muscat said that he has drawn the authority's attention about this, adding that "we have expressed our view that consul- tation offers the opportunity of closer collaboration and finding solutions." The Broadcasting Authority is expected to move into the new premises in Valletta in summer and as reported last month by MaltaToday, economy minister Chris Cardona will move a de- partment within his ministry in the opposite direction and set up office just over 100 metres away from the Labour Party's headquarters in Hamrun. The new Melita Street offices – which have only been shown to a handful of people – were said to be inadequate as they are not big enough for the author- ity's 30-strong staff. They have complained that the new offices, which are still under construc- tion, are "too small and dark " and there are concerns over the efficacy of having up to 10 or 12 employees working in one room. While the move – approved by the BA board in a 7am meet- ing last month – is expected to come in the midst of an electoral campaign, it is being described as short-sighted given that the BA's complement of staff could increase in number in the com- ing months as the authority's re- mit is set to be expanded. The Broadcasting Authority currently only supervises radio and television broadcasting services but the EU's Audio- visual Media Services Directive (AVMS), which entered into force in 2007, is aimed at creat- ing a wider regulatory body cov- ering both traditional television broadcasting and new services such as digital broadcasting and online services. Standing with the workers, UHM CEO Josef Vella (centre) addressed the press outside the Broadcasting Authority offices in Hamrun forgotten to mention it the first time." He denied being told to give a false version of events when the three men spoke whilst waiting for the police to arrive, outside the Paola polyclinic. "Dimech had told us to say that he was ag- gressive, because he was." Giglio and Inspector Arnaud clashed over suggestions that the men had planned what to say in the back of the van. The claim about Kamara's aggression was made "because it was true," Pick- ard told the court. Lawyer Joe Giglio cross-exam- ined the witness. "You had over 150 immigrants who did not want this man with them. Did you see or understand that there was a risk to this man." "Yes," Pickard replied. "So was the decision to place the immi- grant in isolation meant for his own protection?" "10 years of experience had taught us what to do in these cir- cumstances," the witness said. "We did not have time to con- sult our superiors. Dimech came down to try and calm the situa- tion down... [because] the immi- grants were all shaking the bars and banging on them angrily." Dimech had then placed Ka- mara in isolation. "If we had not placed him in iso- lation, I don't know what would have happened. They didn't want him." Giglio moved on to the matter of the escape, suggesting Kamara had knocked a guard flat and ig- nored orders to stop. "I had told him to stop and let us help him," Pickard replied. Asked about the kicking, he said he saw a "confu- sion." Dimech had suffered a bruise on his forehead, he added. He was unable to confirm the defence's suggestion that the victim had also bitten Dimech in the hand, but said but he had seen a lot of blood. The compilation of evidence continues in April. Police Inspector Keith Ar- naud is prosecuting. Lawyers Joe Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell are defence counsel.