GWU seeks industrial tribunals reform

The GWU has written to minister John Dalli, who is the minister responsible for employment relations, calling for an urgent reform to the composition of industrial tribunals.

The union in a statement said it is concerned over the way tribunals were being constituted and the impartiality of the members, particularly in cases involving parastatal bodies.

"Free and impartial industrial tribunals are an essential element for the maintenance of industrial peace" the union said.

It added that as an expression of its determination to see change, it had filed two Constitutional applications in court where it is arguing that the existing tribunal is denying it the right for a fair hearing.

The union said it hoped the minister will take up the matter before the hearings are held and said it was ready for talks.

The union said its concern stemmed from the fact that the Employment and Industrial Relations Act. allowed the government to nominate its own representative on the tribunal and the tribunal was obliged to consider the government's social and economic policies in drafting its awards. This latter consideration made it impossible for the tribunal to be objective, the union said.

Indeed, it added, the law did not lay down that the tribunal had to be impartial and independent, and the members did not enjoy security of tenure. It was also unacceptable that the tribunals were seeking advice and opinions from third parties, the GWU said.