Tony Zarb denies union split

The General Workers' Union's central administration did not orchestrate any backroom ploy to oust a top section secretary, general secretary Tony Zarb has insisted.

Denying any internal rift within the union, Mr Zarb accused the Nationalist Party of waging a dirty campaign against the GWU and rejects claims that, together with assistant secretary Geitu Mercieca, he is steering the union in a dictatorial fashion.

Josephine Attard Sultana and Francis Buttigieg, secretary and president of the public service section respectively, were unceremoniously sacked from the GWU last week after the union's council approved a motion for their dismissal.

Interviewed by The Times, Mr Zarb said his union did nothing more than act in a democratic manner.

The dismissal came just days after Ms Attard Sultana, employed with the union since 1982, had successfully filed court action to stop an extraordinary general meeting of her section. But Mr Zarb said the court had merely ordered that the August 7 extraordinary general meeting would not be held, a decision that was in fact honoured.

Clause 9 of the union's statute however clearly lays down that the national council can lay off any officials if the union receives a petition from over 40 per cent of delegates requesting so, Mr Zarb explained.

The section's executive committee had said it wanted to appoint an investigative commission to verify the petition's validity but Mr Zarb insisted nobody came forward to do so and none of those signing the petition retracted their name.

The case was presented to a two-and-a-half -hour long council meeting, in which Ms Attard Sultana and her representatives made more than one intervention, and a secret vote was taken.

Mr Zarb says he has no idea who was behind the anonymous leaflets distributed prior to the meeting which said that the only option Ms Attard Sultana had was out of the union. Anonymous letters against her were also sent to delegates' homes.

"Someone told me they were being distributed to the delegates and I stopped them at once," he said.

Asked whether he condemned such manoeuvres, he replied: "The most important thing is that we took action. I don't agree with personal campaigns... Yet, I've attended several conferences where leaflets are distributed."

He said Ms Attard Sultana's case dates back to last year when a number of members had given her the thumbs down during a vote of confidence in her during the section's biennial conference.

"Many were complaining of the service given by Josephine. We tried to bring the two sides closer but Josephine didn't get the message." Do section secretaries wield any power free from any outside interference?

"They have the power to run the sections, but in line with the union's policies," Mr Zarb replied.

He denied claims made by Ms Attard Sultana in an interview with MaltaToday that her efforts were directly undermined by Mr Zarb and by Mr Mercieca even if her section still managed to raise membership.

Mr Zarb strongly denied claims that the Labour Party and the GWU were bedfellows or that the MLP orchestrated Ms Attard Sultana's sacking.

"We are not in the union to get rid of anybody. Over here we want people to work. But as a trade unionist I believe you have to be militant. Our militancy sticks up for the workers until the end in order to hammer out the best conditions for them."

Mr Zarb would not be drawn into commenting about claims made by former assistant general secretary Manuel Micallef that the latest incident is proof of a major split inside the GWU.

"Emanuel Micallef contested a post within the union but the delegates didn't choose him," he replied at once.

Pushed further on whether there is a major split, Mr Zarb said: "No, there isn't. But we are a major organisation and sometimes there are contrasting opinions. Ultimately, someone has to take decisions."

He said the union is growing in numbers and last month another 130 people joined the GWU's ranks. He dismissed claims that membership of the union had dropped to some 25,000 people; on the contrary he said it now boasts some 47,000 or 48,000 members.

Mr Zarb had explanations for the departure or otherwise of the high-ranking people who left since he began his tenure, including Ronnie Pellegrini, Mario Cutajar, James Pearsall and Mr Micallef.

He said he does not believe the departure of certain individuals had a major impact on the union but stressed that some people left vowing they would take revenge on the GWU.

Who are these people?

"Just read what some people who were with us write in the media and you'll know who they are."

Ultimately, he said, the country is split into two and for some people the GWU simply could do nothing right. Some people who run the media are constantly trying to undermine the union's credibility.

He asked why the Nationalist Party seems bent on defending "certain" individuals.

Despite the recent events, Mr Zarb said he is prepared to continue steering the union in the same militant vein promised to the delegates last October and insists he will not allow anybody to go against the union's policies and to destabilise the GWU.

Ms Attard Sultana and Mr Buttigieg are expected to hold a press conference this morning in connection with their dismissal.