Unions'rally told of possible 15% cut

The government plans to cut the utility rates by 15 per cent in the coming weeks, General Workers' Union general secretary Tony Zarb, said yesterday, adding the information came from a "little bird".

"This is not enough. We want real changes not cosmetic ones," Mr Zarb insisted during a rally held at the GWU headquartersin Valletta, attended by about 300 people.

Mr Zarb started by thanking the government for bringing the 11 unions fighting the new utility tariffs together. His reference to "the government" was greeted by jeers from a part of the audience.

"We are the defenders of workers not their traitors," Mr Zarb said to a cheering crowd, in an obvious reference to the Union Haddiema Maghqudin and the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions' decision to break ranks on the issue.

He reiterated the 11 unions' call for the regulator's resignation and asked him not to be a "puppet" in the hands of whoever pays his salary.

"We will not stop and we ask you not to pay your bills until they are revised," he said. At one point, a person in the audience shouted that the government threatened it would suspend the service to those who default on bills.

Picking up the comment, Mr Zarb insisted the government would have to suspend the electricity service of all the union representatives first.

"If the government wants to get tough, we can get tough as well," Mr Zarb warned, insisting that the unions want a solution, not confrontation.

He said people should be on the lookout for fresh directives in the coming weeks.

However, John Bencini, the president of the Malta Union of Teachers, stole the show with a sharp short speech, punctuated with humorous comments and witty remarks.

"The Prime Minister had told us that 73 per cent of families would benefit from the eco reduction. The regulator told us 53 per cent would benefit while Enemalta said 68 per cent of families would be eligible. You should try your luck with these numbers and play them in the lotto, maybe you will win and be able to pay the exorbitant bills," Mr Bencini said in one of the lighter moments of his address.

To a rousing applause he then asked who was governing the country in the face of the different figures given out by the government and its agencies.

Mr Bencini started his speech recalling the initial meeting held between all the unions and the Prime Minister on November 22 after the unions' demonstration in Valletta.

"During that meeting all the 20 unions were on one side of the table. Opposite us was the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and two private secretaries. I started looking for the regulator under the table," Mr Bencini said, eliciting a smile from those present.

He then recounted the meeting 11 unions had with Enemalta's auditors KPMG.

"We met at their offices in Msida," he said, at which point Mr Zarb whispered in his ear that the offices were in Pietà.

"And it truly is pietà, because the whole situation is pitiful," Mr Bencini remarked recalling that the auditors confirmed that the percentage of families benefitting from the eco reduction mechanism was worked out on all meters, including those of uninhabited premises and garages.

Earlier, the meeting was also addressed by the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Paul Pace who reiterated the call for the tariffs to come into force on October 1.

Labour MP George Vella and MEP hopefuls Claudette Abela Baldacchino and Joseph Cuschieri were among the audience.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com