CMTU suspends MUT

The question is why did the CMTU come out in favour of the PM's ""revised"" rates so hastily when it is very clear that;

1---The W&E bills are still far too high
2---The threat of hotels reducing their workforce is more imminent thanks to the bills
3---The price of Oil is at its lowest
4---These anti-social bills will be implemented to fill Enemalta's "hole"
5---This remains a classic case of "Politika tal-Calculator" at the workers expense!!!

The CMTU should admit its mistake because if it doesn't its own raison d'etre comes into question!!

Everybody says that where there is unity there is strength. However in different times different unions conveniently forget it. Now its the pro PN unions turn!
Who suffers? We ALL know that as well!!

Personally I feel that the CMTU is simply trying to crush the idea of a TUC because if successful, that would render it even more irrelevant than it already is.

Face facts, CMTU is an anachronism. It's had its day and is now a museum piece. A TUC which unites ALL trade unions would be a major step forwards for the unions and their members, and this is a role which, for historical reasons, the CMTU cannot fill.

I myself am not a teacher, but if I was one I'd be supporting the MUT not the CMTU.

I sense the reason behind this and where it all started is hatred against the GWU. Individuals the like of MUBE President vows to never work with GWU and this has happened in CBM, BOV and even other institutions. They live in the past and not moving forward to benefit today’s employees.
I cannot see any relevance of what happens in the church school saga or other past issues to what we are trying to achieve now. As long as some politically driven individuals stay in the helm of their Unions we will never see any improvement towards a joint force or TUC. Well done to MUT putting aside partigianism and looking forward to a strong force for the benefit of all employees irrespective of their union affiliate or political beliefs.
But some individuals are there only to oppose and their existence is for the purpose to divide and rule. That is what happened in the past and also today.

Employees affiliated in any union of your choice put pressure on your union officials and say ‘Together we are strong. Let us join forces for the benefit of our future industrial relations and put aside political partigianism’.

I bet that this is the happiest moment for GonziPN.
Divide and Rule.

Et TU CMTU ? For 27 euros per year? Like Dr Fauste, you have sold your soul to gain WHAT???

I wonder why and when certain individuals will learn ..... The sad thing about Malta, is the brigade of VIVA our party irrespective of !!!!!

The 80s are just part of history .... The players of those days aren't anymore in the equation !!!! Others, are the player, and this is just a fight between these players ..... Who is the bigger????

IN the end, us are paying the prices for these in-fight .... and we were dreaming of a united front!!! What unity???? We ended up with more divisions!!!!

It's time for the real unions to stand up and be counted. Support the MUT by leaving from the CMTU unless their is an immediate change in its leadership.

@ J.Busuttil - Wake up we are now in 2008. 1987 is 20 years ago. It is now the PN government who is implementing educational reforms without consulting MUT. J. Bencini frequently mentions the 70s and 80s, he still bears the scars. Maybe that it why it took him so long to stand up to CMTU.
Well done MUT - It is the only union that puts its members before any political party. I am proud to be an MUT member.

@ C. Camilleri

I am a lecturer Mr Camilleri and yes, I FULLY agree with Mr. Mario Mifsud.. goodluck Mr. Bencini, don't give up, don't take care of CMTU, you have my full support, and to put your mind at rest Mr Camilleri, the majority of the teachers/lecturers whom I know agree with Mr. Bencini too.

@Jeremy J Camilleri
I don't know the exact no of members in each union or confederate union.. and doesn't really interest me. I have a certain respect for all unions as I think that they all work for the interest of their members in some way or another. That includes the GWU who throughout its history strived to work for its members. Now truly could you kindly point out when it did order industrial action under an MLP..pardon me PL government?

I think yes, that there should be a TUC, but alas things in Malta are too polarized. There needs to be will power and a really serious commitment from all interested parties to form this Trade Union Counci. One has to eliminate the blocs and currents that have existed and still exists from within the unions be it confederate or not..

I wonder what the MUT members think about all this. I bet that if a referendum is held amongst all members of the MUT, the absolute majority will tell Mr. Bencini to go home.

I just cannot believe that Mr. Bencini forget what sacrifices the other unions within the CMTU did for the MUT when the Labour Government wanted the close the church schools and the GWU did not lift one single finger to help them the MUT. WE will soon here about a merger between the GWU and the MUT.

Why do I have the feeling that most of those commenting in support of the MUT are supporters of the LP? Of course, the political leanings of several of them are well known(through these blogs). For these people, CMTU = Nationalists (how wrong of them). Ergo, MUT(the former enemy), against CMTU; against Nationalists; against the Government, are their new heroes.

All unions take part in a demostration as a reaction to the utility tariffs announced by the government. Talks for a creation of a trade union council starts to emerge. A few days later the united front starts to show signs of unrest. Now it's open war between CMTU and MUT (who was the most vocal and active for the creation of the TUC).

Hmmm. DIVIDE AND RULE?

are these the same unions that they use to call them selves FREE......hallina gejt. Now its the right time for the MUT and GWU to start the TUC, go on we will support you.

The one who said that the CMTU is a disgrace for Maltese society is either living on the moon or was not in Malta between 1971-1987 when Malta had a Socialist Labour regime. At that time the free trade unions of the CMTU were fighting the regime to keep INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY because the regime consulted ONLY the LABOUR GWU who was FUSED with LABOUR. J.MICALLEF please note that the trouble with MUT is that while it is a member of CMTU it went on it's way on the Tariffs and the TUC. May i ask how can MUT bring unity among the unions when disagreeing with sister unions in CMTU. John Bencini you failed and NOW you must resign.

Democracy at its best in CMTU. You disagree with something which is for the general good and they suspend you!!

Eli Vassallo...eh...wasn't this a CMTU- MUT issue....

Why do you get the GWU involved.?

Gwu never was part of the CMTu....Actually...its got more members than all of the unions in the CMTU..Ouch!

As for never ordering industrial action under a labour govt....please state proper facts...you're wrong, but being the gentleman that I am, I guess I'll let you look that one up....: O)

The CMTU has suspended the MUT because the MUT has not rushed into agreement with the government with the new energy tariff proposals (like most other unions did) and because it proposed a discussion on a Trade Union Council!!!!

If this is the way CMTU operates it is no wonder so many unions have never wanted to join it! CMTU is a disgrace to the Maltese workforce. MUT is the ideal Union any worker would want to join.

John Bencini must resign from MUT. He led MUT in disagreeing with other CMTU unions how can he be a reference for Tradeunion unity. How can the GWU bring unity amongst unions when it is the privilaged union of the LABOUR PARTY. On can easly say QUO VADIS MUT.

SO NOW CMTU SUSPENDS MUT!!. ALL THIS BECAUSE MUT STOOD UP TO BE COUNTED WITH ALL THE OTHER UNIONS IN MALTA WHO ASKED FOR CLARIFICATIONS RE. GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL ON THE ELECTRICITY TARIFFS. GEJTU AND CO ACCEPTED THEM. MUT SHOULD GO ON WITH TRYING TO UNITE THOSE UNIONS TA BONA VOLANTA'.SHAME ON CMTU. GOOD LUCK MUT

1. One may or may not be in favour of the MUT's leadership decisions these past few months. One may or may not say that the MUT did not have the direct mandate of its members to act in the way it did. That is an internal matter, a matter that behoves its members and their reps.

2. However, when one considers this 'suspension', one has to ask: SO WHAT?! As far as I, personally, can see, it does not matter one iota whether the MUT is part of the CMTU or not. The strength of the MUT, or of any union, stems from the loyalty and backing of its members, and the number of members, and not from the membership of such a union with the Confederation.

In this light, the CMTU would do well to consider the strength, in numbers, of the MUT and it would also do well to realise that the MUT is the only Teachers' Union in Malta and in Gozo.

Finally MUT has shown us teachers that it has some guts of its own. Keep it up, now its time to see you give more input on the new measures being proposed by the Ministry of Education Culture Youth and Sport

Yes agree with you. I am awaiting the moment when the GWU orders industrial action under a Labour Government.......wishful thinking.......

Welldone , CMTU suspends MUT !!
John Bencini, president of the MUT, must retire now, the M.U.T needs Fresh mind's now.

M,Y SYMPATHY WITH M.U.T....IM NOT A TEACHER BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK BY MR BENCINI AND HIS TEAM. THIS SHOWS THAT THE MUT IS NOT A PUPPET ON A STRING !. WELL DONE GUYS

MUT did the right thing. CMTU keep goin this way and the others will follow suit. MUT you got our support!

My friends and I are proud to be members of MUT.My support is to Mr Bencini. He is a vey good leader.

@ Mario Mifsud. WE? In whose name your are writing? Are you a teacher?
I feel John Bencini will be remembered for wrecking the harmony within the free trade union movement. He will be remembered for the ingratitude shown to those who risked so much to help his union when it was being crushed by the labour Govt aided by his new found friend the GWU.

My support to Mr Bencini and the MUT.
Don't give up the fight.

MUT don't take any notice of the CMTU.
Good luck with your initiative for a TUC.

MUT we are right behind you