Coleiro wants tougher GWU stand against EU

Tony Coleiro, secretary of the General Workers Union's drydocks workers' section, last Tuesday warned the union's national council that unless the union took a tough, active stand against EU membership, his section would undertake that role itself.

Sources said the union president Salvu Sammut told Mr Coleiro that everyone had to work within the union's structures, but the secretary general Tony Zarb did not say anything.

The sources said Mr Coleiro referred to an article in last Sunday's It-Torca, which claimed that workers in several sectors would be affected badly by EU membership, and argued that the union would be betraying workers if it did not take action to defend such workers.

"Unless the union takes a tough stand, don't then come and accuse us of taking a stand ourselves against the government," Mr Coleiro told the council.

Asked by The Sunday Times, whether the drydocks workers section executive, which met on Friday, had discussed the issue, Mr Coleiro said the issue was not discussed.

"The union's council meeting was only held last Tuesday and if the GWU acts, there may be no need for us to do anything. The Union Haddiema Maghqudin has taken a stand in favour of the EU, I expect the GWU to take a stand too," he said.

Mr Coleiro was also asked to confirm reports that the names of three union officials who are keeping Mr Zarb from taking a tougher stand on the EU were mentioned at Friday's meeting. He denied that any names were mentioned.

The sources also commented about Mr Coleiro's candidacy in the next general election.

"Mr Coleiro is a candidate, but Mr Zarb wants to give the impression that this is not the case. Mr Zarb never denied reports that he had assured Tony Coleiro that he could continue canvassing door to door, even though he had to sign a declaration stating he is not a candidate.

"The council and union administration at the time were clear that one could not be a candidate and a union official at the same time.

"But Mr Zarb is now saying that one becomes a candidate only when candidates are announced.

"If that were the case, the council did not need to ask Mr Coleiro to sign any statement saying he was not a candidate.

"Mr Zarb should explain why he made the declaration that Mr Coleiro could continue with his door-to-door canvassing and if he did not make such a declaration, he should have no problem taking action against Mr Coleiro as there is ample evidence that Mr Coleiro is canvassing actively. Former Cospicua mayor Paul Muscat wrote this clearly in l-Orizzont," the sources said.

"Perhaps in its next statement, the union should release a copy of a document the Drydocks workers' section committee has in this respect," the sources said.

Asked whether he made such a declaration, Mr Zarb said the union had already commented about that last Sunday.

The union last Sunday said in a statement that the National Council had decided that if Mr Coleiro or any other official, was declared a party candidate, he would be unable to keep his union post.

The statement said that this decision was "being respected by one and all, including Tony Coleiro, and whoever thinks otherwise is living in fantasyland."