Merseyside TUC has expressed support for the GWU in its dispute with Malta Freeport on union recognition and called on other trade unions to do likewise.

Meanwhile, Michael Parnis, deputy general secretary of the GWU has revealed that an attempt at mediation has been made and the union is waiting for more contacts.

The indication of the mediation effort was disclosed in a letter which Mr Parnis wrote on Friday to John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. The letter was published by Merseyside TUC.

The letter was sent after a court, at the request of Malta Freeport, issued a €1 million garnishee order against the GWU after it ordered a go slow and work to rule at the freeport.

Merseyside TUC said the action "of the state, the courts, government and the employers is outrageous and reminds many British Unions of Margaret Thatcher in her attempts to smash the Unions in Britain."

It said the worldwide trade union movement would "not stand idly by and watch the disproportionate action of the Malta courts to sequestrate G.W.U. of one million euros."

It also condemned the Malta Dockers Union for having, it claimed, supported the action of the employer and the courts against the GWU.

"Merseyside T.U.C. also criticises the statement made in today’s The Sunday Times by so-called economic analyst John Cassar White, who said the G.W.U. action was the "wrong message to foreign investors and was endangering jobs. Merseyside T.U.C. would say that the disproportionate actions of the courts in sequestrating an independent Union was the wrong action and wrong message to millions of Unions members across Europe and the world who are considering holidaying in Malta. This action could put in danger the excellent work the G.W.U. with its new tourist initiative for international Trade Unions Federation and its social hub," the Merseyside trade union group said.

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