GWU histrionics

A strange ding-dong battle of words has been going on these last two weeks between the editorialists of the PN daily, In-Nazzjon and the GWU daily l-Orizzont.

It all started after In-Nazzjon of January 12 carried an editorial on what had really been the cause of the recent discharge of 240 employees from the VF clothing factory. The PN daily had commented on this development in the light of the changes prevalent nowadays in the world economy and, among other things, it had pointed out that it is necessary for trade unions to look at these developments with a fresh mentality as resistance to the changes that our economy must undergo could be, in the long run, the biggest threat to the long-term interests of the workers themselves.

From the hysterical reaction in the editorial carried by l-Orizzont the next day, it seems that this made the GWU see red - in more ways than one. "You should be ashamed, if you know how" (Isthu jekk tafu), screeched the title of the l-Orizzont editorial that accused In-Nazzjon of being insensitive and cold-bloodedly lacking any compassion or sympathy towards those who had lost their jobs.

Of course, juxtaposing an argument from an overview of economic developments to the particulars of the personal aches of each person hit adversely by the negative effects of an economic development is a mean trick that is probably beyond the grasp of the average reader of l-Orizzont.

This seemed to signal the start of a strange 'exchange of views' in the editorials of the two newspapers. In-Nazzjon published a number of leaders in which it followed on its original argument while subtly refraining from referring directly to what was being written in the l-Orizzont editorials. Not so subtly, it also criticised the GWU in no uncertain manner, accusing it of, among other things, discriminating between its members employed with state entities and those employed with private industry; being one of the causes of unnecessary costs to local industry through its ownership of the Cargo Handling Co Ltd; and of being blatantly partisan by acting differently in similar situations depending on whether there is a PN or an MLP government.

Frankly, I would have thought that the last point is so obvious and a practically accepted fact of Maltese life, that l-Orizzont would be better off if it were to ignore it. Instead, l-Orizzont avoided reacting to the Cargo Handling issue (perhaps not such a surprise, really) but astonishingly took In-Nazzjon head on about the partisanship argument.

In its editorial last Tuesday, l-Orizzont managed to carry its hysteria to incredible levels by accusing In-Nazzjon of being unashamedly unfair because its cartoon of the previous day alleged that the GWU is exaggerating the present employment situation as the MLP is not in government.

In its nth hysterical outburst, l-Orizzont quoted wholesale the 'offending' remark - rather short-sightedly, I thought, as this meant that the l-Orizzont faithful had the opportunity to read In-Nazzjon's message, an opportunity that they would probably have otherwise missed!

It is incredible that the GWU daily has attempted to refute the reality behind the way it behaves publicly, when this reality is acknowledged - either overtly or tacitly - by all. Is this really the cause of l-Orizzont's present hysteria, or is there something more telling behind all this pointless fuss?

The answer may be found in l-Orizzont's other pages. The GWU decision to organise a 'mass activity' on January 27, splashed every day in the front page of its daily, has curiously beaten Alfred Sant's long-announced plans to take MLP supporters to the streets. Conveniently, Dr Sant's threat has not yet materialised and the GWU seems to be doing his dirty work! Even more conveniently, the MLP and all its sections are openly supporting the GWU's public activity. Surely, this is a clear case of the dog wagging its tail and not the other way round.

In last Tuesday's l-Orizzont, Gejtu Mercieca, in his official capacity of a GWU section secretary (Chemical, energy and printing industries), headed an article of his aimed at whipping up enthusiasm for the pending 'mass activity' with this incredibly politically-partisan title: "A feeble Government looking like a withered lettuce" (Gvern capsa qisu hassa midbiela). Perhaps the GWU wants us to believe that had there been the MLP in power, such a despicable designation being given to the government from one of its section secretaries would be the order of the day if there were the present level of unemployment.

Unfortunately, the marines are not in town. Incredibly, this article was published in the same issue carrying the editorial shrieking self-righteous scorn at the accusation that the GWU is exaggerating because Labour is not in government.

On Wednesday l-Orizzont used up more than half of what was left of its front page to announce in earth-shaking blazonry that last December there were 8,175 registering for employment with the ETC.

The same figure for November 2003, announced a month or so ago, was actually 8,277 - 102 more. Yet, when that number was announced, l-Orizzont covered it with less aplomb.

For the GWU, exaggeration - as, perhaps, In-Nazzjon's cartoonist should learn - is not just a matter of partisan politics. It is also a matter of timing.