GWU to call 'national manifestation' over the budget, tariffs

The GWU will hold a national manifestation to protest over the budget and the utility bills today week, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said today.

He said that while the budget had some good points, the utility tariffs could not be taken out of the equation.

He said the GWU would be insisting that either the tariffs and the budget were revised, or workers should be compensated. A rally for members will be held on Tuesday.

Mr Zarb said the union welcomed the incentives to encourage women to return to work and to encourage the use of alternative sources of energy, which it had proposed.

However the budget had compounded the hardship imposed by the new water and electricity tariffs by raising new taxes and charges, including higher duties on petrol and diesel.

The MLP will also hold a manifestation, over the utility tariffs, this Sunday.