It is almost too good to be true: trade unions have taken the first step that might lead to the setting up of a trades union council, something that has seemingly been out of reach of the movement for so many years. And, as if to make the picture complete, the new drive is being made at the same time that the social partners are attempting to draw up a social pact within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

All this is definitely good news. But as this is not the first time an attempt is being made to set up a TUC it may appear somewhat premature to feel elated at the announcement. Yet, somehow, it looks as if this time the unions mean business. If this is the case, all those interested in the well-being of the workers generally and of the economy as a whole can only wish the trade unions well in an exercise that could also lead to the strengthening of the trade union movement itself.

For the new effort to succeed, however, it is important that the unions start afresh, putting past differences over representation in the council behind. Surely a formula can be found that is satisfactory to the majority of the unions that are seeking to form the council.

It seems that the new effort has come about following a visit to Malta some time ago by the general secretary of Britain's Trades Union Council, John Monks. It was said then that Mr Monks had come to see how the unions could work together on issues such as participation in EU fora and the sharing of information on common topics, such as occupational health and safety. These, indeed, are all matters in which the trade unions can, indeed should, easily collaborate.

The first meeting of the unions interested in the setting up of the council has been held at the headquarters of the General Workers' Union, the largest trade union in the country. The second will be held at the second largest union, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, a union that had first been set up to cater for the clerical segment of the civil service workforce but then expanded so much that it later transformed itself into a general trade union.

With the steady growth of the UHM in recent years, the two largest unions have at times been at loggerheads over one issue or another. This is hardly surprising considering how strong the competition may be for them to win new members. A trades union council will not eliminate this but it would, at least, help to bring about greater coherence over matters that may not be controversial or divisive in nature.

The unions have now agreed to form a working group, comprising representatives of each union, and plan to work out a code of ethics first. Again, this is a most sensible move. The GWU's general secretary, Tony Zarb, has been reported as saying he was satisfied with the progress made so far, adding that it looked like the unions appeared to be putting side differences and were focusing on issues on which they could take a common stand.

The efforts being made today for the setting up of the TUC as well as the work being done to knock into shape a workable social pact may be indicative of the trade unions' urge to further adapt to the needs of modern times. May they succeed.