PM's reply baffles GWU and MUT

Trade unions cannot understand why Prime Minster Lawrence Gonzi was referring them to the Malta Resources Authority to seek clarifications on the utility tariffs once they had discussed the subject with him.

Both the general secretary of the General Workers' Union, Tony Zarb and the president of the Malta Union of Teachers, John Bencini thought it was strange that unions were being sent to the regulator following discussions with the Prime Minister about the tariffs.

They were also disappointed that Dr Gonzi did not accede to their request to schedule another meeting with him to discuss the tariffs, Mr Zarb and Mr Bencini said when contacted. They spoke in reaction to a letter sent by Dr Gonzi in reply to another letter sent to him earlier this month by 11 trade unions demanding clarifications about the new water and electricity tariffs.

On December 10, the unions had written to Dr Gonzi questioning the number of people benefitting from the eco reduction and insisting that, according to a study commissioned by them, this would exclude a substantial number of people, including one-and-two person households, most of whom are pensioners.

In his reply, sent on Monday, Dr Gonzi said the government would not object if the unions sought clarifications from the Malta Resources Authority.

He explained that changes in the tariffs should be approved by the MRA, as the regulator, according to the provisions of Maltese law and EU regulations.

The MUT's Mr Bencini said he was "confused" and "surprised" by the reply as, apart from the fact that it did not answer the unions' queries, unions were being asked to go to the regulator to clarify information that emerged out of a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Agreeing, Mr Zarb added that Dr Gonzi's reply led him (Mr Zarb) to believe that everything would remain unchanged and the proposed higher tariffs would stand. He added that the 11 unions will soon be meeting to discuss a way forward.

When contacted, a spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that Dr Gonzi had referred the unions to the regulator because the content of their letter had to be addressed by the MRA.

The spokesman reiterated that the government believed it should be the regulator who, in a transparent way, would justify, or otherwise, any changes in the tariffs.