GWU will not take action against critic

General Workers' Union general secretary Tony Zarb yesterday said he would not be taking any action against Peter Paul Barbara, a union employee who drew up two of the GWU's reports on European Union membership.

Mr Barbara, who was previously employed as the union's EU Desk Officer, told The Sunday Times that the GWU should never have adopted its current anti-EU slogan.

In the past few weeks the GWU has been criticised by several sectors for keeping its numerous reports under wraps and Mr Barbara felt the need to speak out.

Mr Barbara, who now works at the GWU on a part-time basis, said that if put in a national context, "the conclusions of the majority of the reports were generally positive".

Mr Barbara also felt that the first slogan the GWU had come up with on the EU issue - to stop, think and decide - would have been better than Int Ma Jaqbillekx (It is not in your interest), especially since the GWU was a multi-sectoral union.

Mr Zarb said he did not feel the need to react, especially since the union had unanimously decided on the stand it should adopt to membership.

"Our stand is clear: it does not benefit the worker, or the country, to join the EU," Mr Zarb said when pressed to comment.

Mr Zarb was yesterday closing a one-day seminar for women at the Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala.

During his address Mr Zarb said he would not reply to the attacks made by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin over the weekend because one of its officials, Edward Abela, died yesterday. A minute's silence was held as a mark of respect.