Mercury rising?

So the performance has started and according to Tony Zarb, the General Workers' Union's secretary general, "the show must go on".

Free entertainment for all is to be had by all, very often from now on, or so we have been warned. Aren't we lucky people?

Unfortunately, I missed the great event but I have been told that thousands of people attended. Apparently they marched through Republic Street, in Valletta to listen to and accompany the stars. The concert's highlight, it has been reported, was the popular fan-catching tune We Will Rock You. The crowd, apparently, went wild hollering this stanza and applauding the performers. The concert culminated with an appeal by the main artist, unfortunately not the real Freddie Mercury!

Alas Queen is no more... and attempting to revive them is, oh well, what can I say... words fail me.

My heartfelt sympathy goes to all the families, at present, in difficulty. If there is even one unemployed person in Malta there is one too many and the government, hand in hand with all the social partners, must do everything within its power to keep unemployment at its lowest.

But taking to the streets will not create jobs. It causes disruption. It gives birth to unrest. It is, above all, a useless one-way exercise.

In this day and age, working in tandem with others is the modern way of doing things. Dialogue is, or should be, the highest strategy any social partner should resort to, to solve problems, whether on a national level or globally. And, yet, the GWU is opting for the old aggressive way, measures that are both passè and too militant for my liking.

Did the GWU really have to invade the streets to tell us that "concrete" measures to eliminate bureaucracy are in dire need? I watched and listened to this earth-shattering demand from the comfort of my armchair. I too believe that too much red tape is detrimental to business. Elementary, I would say. As far as I know this cross is borne by all countries and I suggest the GWU rephrase its request and replace the word "eliminate" by a more realistic one - "minimise".

Other proposals submitted very noisily are, prima facie, not outrageous. So what's all the fuss about? Surely, with some "concrete" discussion some kind of "concrete" measures can be taken by the government together with all partners involved to tackle the matters.

Unemployment is every country's plague. Malta is no different. Globalisation has much to do with the issue no matter how hard Mr Zarb screams otherwise. Perhaps the GWU should commission a detailed report on "concrete" measures to be taken to enable us to compete with the rest of the world.

This union should be consistent to gain credibility. It must undertake "concrete measures to eliminate" employing two weights and two measures. Perhaps, the GWU should delve into allegations repeatedly being made that many of its protégées are getting away with hell. Just to mention one "concrete" example of such privileged classes: Cargo Handling, a company belonging to the same GWU, has been accused of charging exorbitant rates which are, undoubtedly, detrimental to industry at large. I would like Mr Zarb to answer this straightforward question: Is it true that it is cheaper for a container to travel all the way from China than it is to travel from the Maltese Grand Harbour to our shore? Once again, words fail to express my disgust.

People in glass houses should not throw stones. It is truly ironic that on the very day the GWU rallied its people to protest against the alleged escalating unemployment situation, Peter Paul Barbara, a GWU employee who, incidentally, in a report commissioned by the GWU, found in favour of the European Union membership, was chucked out!