Zarb calls for legislation on union recognition

The GWU has called for talks between the social partners on amendments to the Employment and Industrial Relations Act on trade union recognition.

The issue is currently the source of a dispute between the GWU and the Malta Dockers' Union at Malta Freeport, with the former calling for a secret ballot and the other saying verification of union membership books should be the preferred method.

Tony Zarb made his call at a seminar on social dialogue organised by the Ghaqda Unions Maltin, a body formed of 12 trade unions.

In his speech, Mr Zarb insisted that the trade unions wanted real social dialogue, not imposition.

He said that there had been several cases where social dialogue was not honest and genuine, a case in point being the way how the government acted on the water and electricity tariffs. Indeed, the Prime Minister was still refusing a request for a meeting with 11 trade unions.

Mr Zarb said the GWU believed that there should be a structure for social dialogue, and it also believed that the Forum of Trade Unions should be made a member of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

He also pointed out that the seminar was a milestone event since this was the first time that 12 trade unions had jointly organised an event to mark May 1, Workers' Day.