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Union against Govt plan to sell its rented housing
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The TGWU/ACTS has come out opposing the Government plan to sell its rented accommodation. The union says it is against 'privatisation of the government's public housing estates and stock', and has called for a meeting of the Gibraltar Trades Council for tomorrow.
District Officer Charles Sisarello says that the Government move comes at a time when there is a shortage of government subsidised rented accommodation and when private housing prices are high.
The union also refers to possible job losses.
A union statement says:
"The Minister for Housing has written to all tenants of government owned housing estate sitting tenants proposing the possibility of buying their flat. This has been undertaken without consideration being given to the possible loss of jobs in the different government departments which directly or indirectly are employed for that purpose. These will affect Administration, Technical and Industrial grades. "The TGWU/ACTS for this purpose has called for a meeting of the Gibraltar Trades Council, which will take place on Thursday 16th August, as members of other Unions, besides the TGWU/ACTS will be affected.
"The TGWU/ACTS is opposed to the privatisation of the government?s public housing estates and stock. This opus of the Housing Ministry is not new it was floated in 1979 when the AACR was in power, but was rejected.
"The TGWU/ACTS considers that when there is a shortage of government subsidised rented accommodation, as the policy of successive government has been the construction of private estate, and when private housing prices are high. To sell public housing, will mean that families with middle and low incomes who cannot afford to buy a private flat, will have difficulty in finding suitable accommodation, especially young families.
COST OF REPAIRS
"Furthermore, if any government housing estate becomes private, the cost of the repair and maintenance services will be paid by the tenant, both for interior and exterior works.
"For these reasons, the TGWU/ACTS will seek the support of other Unions and workers to oppose this policy."
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