Unions' group laments ending of talks

FOR.U.M., a group of eight trade unions lobbying to be represented at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, said yesterday the government should have allowed more time for talks on the social pact as the differences between those involved "were not so wide".

Speaking on behalf of the group, Rudolph Cini said the government had initially said talks had to be concluded by the end of the month but for some reason cut the timeframe short.

"There was a sound basis on which agreement could have been reached. We just needed more time to discuss. There were only three points of divergence between the unions and the gap could have been bridged, " he said.

Mr Cini said unions should stop criticising each other and work together to face the tough times that lay ahead when the health, pensions and education reforms would be discussed.

He said the Prime Minister would be meeting the FOR.U.M. on Monday afternoon to discuss the issue of their participation at the MCESD. The FOR.U.M. had requested the meeting last November.

The unions within FOR.U.M. are ALPA, representing pilots, AAE, representing airline engineers, UCC representing cabin crew, UHBC, representing Central Bank personnel, MUMN, representing midwives and nurses, UMASA, representing university academic staff, UPSIP, representing architects and engineers within the civil service, and UPAP, representing professional staff within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.