Tuesday, 2nd December 2008 - 11:40CET

MUT fires back at CMTU

The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) this morning reiterated its no confidence in the leadership of the CMTU and said no threat of suspension from the confederation would make it go silent.

Reacting to a statement issued yesterday by the CMTU, which threatened the union with suspension, the teachers’ union observed that the CMTU had gone ahead with a meeting to discuss its (the MUT’s) actions even though the MUT officials could not be present because of other pressing commitments.

In that ‘infamous’ meeting, the CMTU council was prosecutor, judge and jury and condemned the MUT without having the decency to hear it out, the union said.

This, it said, was undemocratic. It violated the CMTU statute and shamed those who attended.

It appeared, the MUT said, that the CMTU was not pleased that one of its affiliates had said it wanted to continue the process so that Malta could, one day, have a Trades Union Council, a process which was supposed to have started three years ago when ETUC General Secretary John Monks visited Malta and the unions committed themselves to that process.

Neither could the CMTU tolerate the fact that the MUT, along with other unions, asked the government to clarify two points in the government document on the utility tariffs. It only wanted the MUT to toe the line and accept everything.

The MUT said that as a serious and democratic union it could not accept that the CMTU acted on an ad hoc and arbitrary basis. It had always put the workers’ welfare at the top of its agenda and no threat of suspension would close its mouth, the MUT said.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

c.camilleri (on 3/12/08)

@ g Schembri. The Gwu has special relations with the PL and i am sure that once the PL is in power the Gwu would not care a dime about the TUC or for that matter the other unions. The GWU only talks about TUC when there is a Nats Govt.

Manuel Mifsud (on 3/12/08)

@G. Schembri

Of course I don't hate Germans and Italians because they were our enemies 50 years ago. In fact I admire both countries. By the way, I do not hate anyone, I also have many friends who are LP and GWU members. However it hurts to see a CMTU affiliated Union which is taking a stand which goes against all other nine members of CMTU. A Union which has shared so many experiences with the others for so many years. Mine is a genuine concern. I didn't mean to hurt anyone.

G.Schembri (on 2/12/08)

I cannot understand why some people continue to bring up what happened in 1971-1987. So then CMTU supported MUT and GWU did not, does this mean that now MUT has to tow the CMTU line? If MUT, which is one of the largest unions in Malta, believes it's in its members' interest to question the government about the electricity tariffs, it should do so even if this means siding with the GWU and not with UHM. What I cannot understand is, how come CMTU are not questioning the government about these tariffs? Well done MUT, you always put your members first. It seems that MUT is the only union without political strings!!!

I wonder if C.Camilleri and M.Mifsud expect us Maltese to hate Germans and Italians because they were our enemies 50 years ago. When are we going to grow up.

J Busuttil (on 2/12/08)

The CMTU is the central confederation of the free tradeunions that fought the socialist-labour administration when this administration tried to destroy free tradeunionism in Malta. If the MUT of today has any respect for those members who upheld tradeunionism in those days it should stop it's 'fires' against the CMTU. Th MUT is totally wrong in alone taking initiatives without first discussing these in the CMTU Council as is the case of the TUC.

J Farrugia (on 2/12/08)

effie carbonaro isn't the gwu an mlp (today PL) backer? have you forgotten Alfred sant saying that the GWU is the most privileged union for his party? Haven t you seen Gejtu and tony walking in red teeshirts during the mayday celebrations? We don't forget! But I haven't seen any cmtu walking in maydays or in pn celebrations.

Manuel Mifsud (on 2/12/08)

The MUT, now, can afford to attack the CMTU. Gone are the days when CMTU members gave money out of their pockets to support the teachers who were suspended without pay. Who cares?! It is quite obvious that recently the MUT got closer to the GWU. Can the MUT tell us how often did the GWU support it when it had huge problems under the Labour administrations (1971-1987)? It was always the CMTU which supported the MUT. A friend in need is a friend indeed!

c. camilleri (on 2/12/08)

The CMTU was founded to fight the arrogance of power of the ruling junta. The fact that the MUT has now found the luxury to wreck this organisation of free unions is a sign that this danger no longer exists. It takes more than just smiles to join hands with GWU who in the past sided with the Govt in destroying the MUT movement.

loris costa (on 2/12/08)

The crux of this matter is clear to all who want to see it: the CMTU deserves better leadership full-stop.

John Saliba (on 2/12/08)

So the MUT is in favour of a TUC but at the same time is not prepared to toe the line within the CMTU. Who on earth would believe, with the MUT's attitude, that a TUC would last?

Manuel Micallef (on 2/12/08)

Is MUT to be crucified for simply expressign the wish for a Trade Union Council to be set up?

This is unbelievable behaviour by CMTU in a democratic country. I agree with MUT - they should be ashamed of it.

B Sant (on 2/12/08)

shame on all parties- it seems there are hidden agendas not to crate a TUC- all unionised workers should stand up and be counted at this point in time

effie carbonaro (on 2/12/08)

It only wanted the MUT to toe the line and accept everything.by theses phrase are you implementing that the cmtu is a pn .... licker.

Joe Morana (on 2/12/08)

It is a sad time for the local trade union movement because of this CMTU - MUT rift . This rift is causing undue damage to both these organisations and their leaders and their respective members. I am conviced that the CMTU would stand to loose without one of its major affiliates,t and conversely the MUT stands to gain and deserves its rightful place witin the CMTU.

I am sure that the CMTU and UHM co- founder the late Salvino Spiteri and his collegue the former MUT President the late Alfred Buhagiar, would not have let any disagreement reach the present proportions but these two stalwarts would have resolved their differences amicable for the benefit of all concerned. May good will and good sense prevail.

Gavril Flores (on 2/12/08)

divide and rule

MUT fires back at CMTU

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