UHM wants 'serious debate' on reforms

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin would not accept imposition or a lack of serious debate on pensions and health reform, general secretary Gejtu Vella warned yesterday.

Speaking at the end of a seminar on lifelong learning organised by the union's youth committee, Mr Vella said the UHM would be studying the report prepared by the welfare reform commission chairman so that it would be in a position to protect the interests of workers, pensioners and their families.

The UHM, he said, had worked to set up the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development with the main aim of tackling the economic and social changes needed in the country. It was a shame that the council had not met in the past few months, he said.

Mr Vella also referred to comments made recently by the general secretary of the General Workers' Union. Tony Zarb said the GWU was still waiting for a reply from the UHM and the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions on a proposal to set up a trade union congress.

Neither the UHM nor the CMTU had received such a proposal, Mr Vella said.

He said those who really wanted unity among unions could easily ask to join the CMTU, which already gathered within it the main unions in Malta.

The UHM, he said, invited the GWU to join the CMTU.