Union seeks agreement over essential services clause

The General Workers' Union yesterday insisted that its top priority was to reach an agreement with the government over an amendment to the clause on essential services in the Employment and Industrial Relations Bill.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said the union would only resort to taking to the streets if it were left no other option and the government did not make the necessary amendments.

The bill, which is currently being debated in committee stage in Parliament, had raised the ire of the union as soon as it was launched as a White Paper.

Addressing union members of the public services' section, Mr Zarb said the union would continue to fight on the frontline to defend the workers' rights.

"The government has the opportunity to see a law being drawn up by all the parties involved to protect the country's only resource - its workers. Let us not destroy this chance," he said.

He told those present that according to the proposed clause 64, certain workers would not only lose the right to strike for others, they would also lose the right to strike for themselves.

Mr Zarb also said that the Union Haddiema Maghqudin had thrown away an opportunity for unions to present a united front in pushing for the amendments.

"We had a golden opportunity for both unions to set aside their differences, but the UHM remained headstrong and refused to have a united front," he said.