Time to stand up and be counted

A ll leading economists have advised the government that it is not the right time to increase the water and electricity tariffs due to the global economic situation which is hovering on a recession worldwide. The proposed tariffs will harm the economy and will certainly lead to job losses, especially in the manufacturing and tourism sectors which are two very important pillars of our economy.

The General Workers' Union was surprised, to say the least, that the government did not conduct an economic and social impact assessment on the proposed increase in tariffs. What was even more surprising to the GWU was that it seemed like a prominent government official was not aware of what the social and economic impact assessment entailed. Furthermore, the MCESD members were duped into discussing a pre-budget document which did not include the proposed increase in tariffs, let alone the impact that this would have on the economy and society; it was only at the last moment that the agenda was changed to discuss this issue. Are we therefore to assume that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing? Or was this strategy planned from the outset to bulldoze these sharp increases without proper consultation?

The fact that an economic and social impact assessment was not conducted clearly shows that the government is taking a leap in the dark and is not aware of consequences that the increase in tariffs will have on our economy and society. In fact this is one of the main reasons why all the social partners in the MCESD advised the government to postpone this decision until April of next year, a proposal which unfortunately the government decided to ignore.

The management of our economy demands that such decisions are not taken arbitrarily and from a purely accounting aspect to balance the books of Enemalta and Water Services Corporation. Such decisions must take into consideration the economic and social aspects after a proper consultation process is undertaken with all the stakeholders involved.

When all the consultation avenues were exhausted the GWU felt it had no other option but to call a popular manifestation against the increase in tariffs and the lack of proper social dialogue. The response from the other unions was very encouraging.

A new and historic era in industrial relations is unfolding and let us hope that this is just the first important milestone which will lead to the setting up of a trade union council for the benefit of all employees, pensioners and their families.

The GWU feels there are other issues which all unions can work closely together on, such as in the field of health and safety, flex-security and irregular migration and employment for example. This approach would hopefully bring the unions to trust each other more.

For the time being, however, all trade unions' members and their families must respond to the call made by their leaders. It is time to stand up and be counted so that the government either revises the tariffs or takes measures to compensate them from government finances.

Mr Carachi is president of the General Workers' Union.