Tony Zarb's reaction

When giving his reactions to the Budget speech, the General Workers Union (GWU) secretary general Tony Zarb said that the Budget is one which compensates for some of the expenses incurred by the Maltese people. He was also quoted as saying that "While some positive measures were announced, however the Budget does not indicate how the government aims to reduce the high cost of living".

The GWU also noted that the Budget is positive as it provides for research and innovation, measures encouraging women to the working world, financial aid within the education sector, and other measures in the tourism sector. With these comments, for the first time ever, the GWU expressed itself, to some extent, in favour of a Budget presented by a Nationalist government.

Consequently, as Dr Alfred Sant puts it, comments made by the GWU which were (partially) in favour of the Budget 2007, along with all the positive comments by all the other social partners, make the union one of those entities or individuals which were paid (or partially paid) by the Nationalist government to support the Budget.

All Malta, including all the social partners, heard Dr Sant's comments loud and clear and instantly condemned what he said. But to everyone's astonishment, instead of categorically condemning the Labour Party for insinuating such things even about the GWU, Mr Zarb decided to serve God and the devil at the same time, by declaring that he did not hear the comments made by Dr Sant, and thus avoided condemning him.  

For the umpteenth time the GWU is showing to what extent it can be credible in what it says and in what it does.