A General Workers Union delegation, accompanied by representatives of one of Italy's biggest trade union, the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL), yesterday laid red carnations on the Workers' Monument in Msida.

GWU secretary-general Tony Zarb, deputy secretary-general Emanuel Micallef, president Salv Sammut and a number of union officials and section secretaries, headed the delegation.

Mr Zarb thanked the CGIL representatives for celebrating Workers' Day in Malta. "The presence of our Italian friends shows that the GWU enjoys the support of trade unions in Europe, who are fighting for common causes and calling on respective governments to create work," Mr Zarb said.

"We would like to greet jobless workers, workers who are suffering injustice at their workplace and those who cannot work because of an accident," he said.

Mr Zarb said that in the context of EU membership, the union would like to see a Europe with a social heart and a Europe of solidarity between workers.

"This is a clear message for all those who said that the Maltese will have work as a result of EU Union membership. We now call on these people to keep their promise," Mr Zarb said.

The GWU secretary-general pointed out that the Workers' Monument in Msida was not receiving the respect it was due. "The area surrounding it is marred with billboards and bumping cars. We are making ourselves clear: we will not come next year and find this monument in such a shameful state," Mr Zarb said.

The monument marks the birth of the General Workers Union at Msida on October 5, 1943.