Unions tight-lipped on utility rates proposals

The unions yesterday remain tight-lipped on the details of the nine proposals submitted to the government on the controversial water and electricity rates.

The unions met Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Tuesday to discuss revisions to the new rates, which they insist would lead to further hardships for families ahead of the upcoming festive season.

Dr Gonzi also met the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, which presented its calculations on how to reduce the figure Enemalta needed to collect to balance its books.

The government is now analysing the proposals made at both meetings. It was insisting that waste had to be discouraged and people had to pay for what they consumed.

The trade unions, which joined forces to protest in Valletta last Friday, would not divulge the contents of the proposals, hoping for a positive reply from the government.

While the General Workers' Union's general secretary Tony Zarb said the unions were after a revision or compensation, his counterpart at the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, Gejtu Vella was hoping for a revision. He felt compensation was just a one-time payment, which would not really ease the burden on families and employers in the long term.