The MDU and port workers

I refer to the letter written by Charles Vella, GWU media and information executive, under the title GWU Refutes Dockers' Union Claim (July 11).

From what Mr Vella wrote, it looks quite clear that either he doesn't know the facts or else he was given the wrong information.

The two meetings organised by the GWU were advertised by the union as meetings for all port workers. The adverts were displayed all over our place of work. Moreover, all of us, including the Malta Dockers' Union officials, received a personal invitation by post from the GWU to attend these meetings.

For reasons still unknown to all of us, two days before the said meetings the MDU officials received a letter from Charles Agius, the GWU's section secretary, informing them that their invitation had been withdrawn. What Mr Vella said in his letter that "only the invitations issued inadvertently to the leadership committee of the MDU were withdrawn" is not true. In fact, I know at least one person, Louis Buhagiar, who is not an MDU official, whose invitation was also withdrawn by the GWU.

So apart from the MDU officials there was at least another worker who is a member of the MDU who was not invited to the GWU meetings. Can Mr Vella please explain?

And why were MDU officials invited and then their invitation was withdrawn? Are the GWU officials afraid to face the MDU officials? It would be interesting to know how many port workers attended the GWU meetings. And why were these meetings not reported by l-orizzont?

About the four-shift system, the MDU very correctly only asked for its members' opinion as to whether they preferred the present shift system or the four shifts. This was done to enable the union to negotiate an agreement with the management of Malta Freeport according to its members' mandate. Anything wrong with this? Does the GWU act according to its members' mandate? The opinion of the MDU members regarding the four-shift system was officially announced by the union before the secret ballot held by the GWU about the same issue. The MDU announced that it will now continue with the negotiations with Malta Freeport on the basis of the wishes of the majority of its members. What is wrong with this, Mr Vella? What was the fuss by the GWU all about ?

I am more than satisfied that, as a licensed port worker, thanks to the MDU my job was guaranteed, my working conditions improved and my earnings increased. I assure Mr Vella that port workers are only after facts and the truth. I appeal to our MDU officials to keep doing their good work in the interests of the port workers and not to allow outsiders to destroy what we have gained and achieved under the leadership of the Malta Dockers' Union.