Zarb warns government not to impose more burdens
GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb this afternoon warned the government not to impose further burdens on the people because "the people will stop you."
Concluding the national congress of the GWU, Mr Zarb said he was calling on all trade unions to work together in the interests of the workers, and he particularly praised MUT president John Bencini for the way the GWU and the MUT had collaborated on the utility tariffs issue.
Mr Zarb said there was place for everybody in the GWU and he pledged to defend workers against all forms of discrimination whether it was political, racial or sexual orientation.
The union earlier approved five policy documents including two against discrimination to the detriment of migrant workers and gay workers.
Mr Zarb urged workers to join the GWU. He said there had been a recent case where Gozitan workers who were not unionised were not paid for a year. They were paid after they joined the union.
He also condemned some employers who, he said, had not made it possible for the delegates to attend the congress.
He said the GWU was promising to always be credible, competent and consistent.
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Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 7th 2009, 13:12
P Grima...do you believe all that you hear? Min jibla kollox nghidulu.....
G Mangion..so you're resigning from the GWU and joining another union? told you its a free world.....
p.grima
Oct 7th 2009, 00:29
@-Jeremy J Camilleri -
"If the members think that the GWU is not worth an extra 10 euros a year, then they can stop paying...."
You see, many Ex-GWU members had apparently stopped paying the union years back, others have been deceased for years, and yet I hear they all still appear on the Union's books even if they do not pay.
G. Mangion
Oct 6th 2009, 18:34
@ Jeremy J Camilleri (23 hours, 42 minutes ago)
If the members think that the GWU is not worth an extra 10 euros a year, then they can stop paying....
Union membership is a choice.......Other raises are not...very simple isn't it?( YOUR QUOTE)
IF THEY STOP PAYING THE EXYTRA 10 EWROS, THEY GET KICKED HARD ,,,,,,,,,,, AND OUT
OF THE gwu , THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS !!!
anyway it Won't be a Problem Many Other seious Union's are around .................
c. mizzi
Oct 6th 2009, 15:09
g mercieca (on 30/7/09)
Who are these guys with a grudge against the GWU? They don’t have the guts to come and talk with us directly to at least understand on what they are writing. Guys your wishful thinking is going to stay like it is. From your writing you are really PN depressed bloggers and the cause for this is you are viewing too much net news. In reality what you are wishing to the GWU is happening to your dear fold and the latest resignation of your pn president confirms disarray. Try for once to be serious and come and join us.
X'faqar ta' hsieb u x'argumenti banali ! Dan huwa l-istess Geitu Mercieca li kemm ilu fil-kariga spiccaw 5 segretarji ta' taqsimiet tal-Union. Imma l-aqwa li zamm keltmu kif habbrilna eskluzzivament il-bierah " lis-Segretarju Ġenerali Tony Zarb. “Kont għedtlu li m’għandux għalxiex jinkwieta li ssir konfoffa kontrih u dik il-wegħda żammejtha,” sostna Mercieca. Ghazlu intom jekk tibkux jew tidkux !
John Mangion
Oct 6th 2009, 14:34
The Euro 10 increase in membership fee is nothing compared to the benefits that the GWU members and their families will be enjoying from the various partnership agrreements signed recently. These include favourable terms from a leading bank, a leading communications company, a leading private hospital and Insurance company, a leading entertainment company plus a discount card!
Mark Galea
Oct 6th 2009, 08:54
strange how only few PL/GWU supporters are commenting on the latest Toni Zarb gaffe? I think they are still in the queue to pay up their yearly membership.
Alex Ellul
Oct 5th 2009, 23:15
same lemonade, same bottle, same name, NEW label, but 33% more expensive.
J Martinelli
Oct 5th 2009, 22:13
Of the three adjectives Tony Zarb attributed to the GWU (credible, competent and consistent) he is at least, right on one of them.
The GWU is CONSISTENTLY sour.
As far as credibility and competency are concerned I need not comment.
Tony is rattling his chain again trying hard to accommodate Joseph and find a reason for calling the people to the streets. Birds of a feather ....
Neville Zammit
Oct 5th 2009, 22:12
To all people wondering about the 10 Euros increase of the GWU membership. Don't you think it is a bit hypocrite to make all this fuss about 10 Euros (Lm4.29) per year while at the same time on various occasions remain dumb, or even defend the frequent and huge rises of taxes and utility bills like water & electricity and gas? Thank God this country is a full member of the European union but unfortunately its mentality is 30/40 years backwards, we judge facts not on their merit but on who were done. If our ruling party rise a tax/fee its fine but if someone else do the same thing even tough its negligible its a great mortal sin...kemm baqghalna x'nikbru bhala nazzjon sbiex nikkomparaw ma l-ewropej!
Gianninu Saliba
Oct 5th 2009, 20:43
Right, Joseph says that he will take he will organize demonstrations against the Government and Tony decides to sound like an echo by telling the Government that the people will stop you. Didn't they both say similar things with regards to the Drydocks issue some time last year? Dream on. This government will be preparing the final touches to another electoral victory in four years time. By then the recession will long be forgotten, the economy will we stronger than ever before and the government would have spent in excess of one billion euros that the EU has made available to Malta. By the way, Tony Zarb will be something of the past as far as the GWU is concerned. No big loss for the Union as he has already passed his sell by date.
R. Marmara
Oct 5th 2009, 20:40
@ Tony Zarb Why don't lead by example ? Or is it I'm allright .... jack?
c. camilleri
Oct 5th 2009, 20:27
Warning the Prime Minister not to burden the people further when at the same time he raised the union fee by 33%. As always do not do as i do but do as i say. Tony please stop using the workers as they have grown up now, and know who really care for them. Similar speeches in the past has not improved the workers' conditions one cent. Only action as has been taken by Dr. Gonzi when he saved more than 2000 jobs really helps the workers.
Agius Joseph
Oct 5th 2009, 19:14
Gonzi is warned...Issa Daqshekk 2 The Sequel.........but this time ONLY GWU has the right to impose burdens on workers! Nice branding!!
Ethelbert Schembri
Oct 5th 2009, 18:45
to all The new fee is 40 euros per year so it is 76 euro cents per week!! and for that fee any member will get far much more back.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Oct 5th 2009, 18:25
If the members think that the GWU is not worth an extra 10 euros a year, then they can stop paying....
Union membership is a choice.......Other raises are not...very simple isn't it?
Michael Neville Cassar
Oct 5th 2009, 18:20
J Farrugia Who is menacing who? So do two wrongs make any right, are you happy with the present situation. What will the workers do without a Union Voice, before you condemn the GWU why not look into how money is spent on areas that year after year they had their fill a mistake here and a mistake there. Now there is no more docks to subsidize No more Sea Malta yet I ask, is the tax payer’s money being spent in the right areas.
G. Mangion
Oct 5th 2009, 18:19
Imma Posibbli li sur zarb ghadu ma ndunax li, kliem maledukat issa dejjaq lil Kulhatt ?
INWISSI , INiZELL IN - NIES FIT TOROQ, WILL ROCK YOU ! X' Qet jaseb dan li sa jintimidana? jekk IVA nigarantilu li mhux jirnexxi , is - Soltu.
KEMM INBIDEL IZ - ZMIEN TON !!! WARRAB TON TA LINQAS, MUHX IWARRBUK !!!.........
R Spiteri
Oct 5th 2009, 18:18
2007
Issa daqshekk
2009
Issa gbajna
2007
Micallef leyson x tahseb li hi??
2009
Micallef leyson merhba
2007
Partnerhsip kien l ahjar ghazla
2009
Futur fl-ewropa ghal haddiema
2007
Alfred Sant and Joseph Muscat
2009
Tony Zarb and Joseph Muscat
2007
Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon
2009
Anglu Farrugia and Tony Abela
2007
Jason Micallef 40,000 euro
2009
Jason Micallef 40,000 euro
Leyson Micallef 40,000 euro
Charlon Gouder ??? euro
Glenn Beddingfield ??? euro
J Cilia
Oct 5th 2009, 18:11
Trust Tony to shoot himself in the foot. Rebranding projects are meaningless unless the rot and decay that prevails in the corridors and offices of power at the Workers' Memorial Building are eradicated once and for all. Following the Drydocks, Port Workers and Sea Malta debacles the GWU is a moribond union that once in a while endeavours to put strength in its actions only to find out that the mind,body and soul are too weak to sustain any meaningful action. The real demise of the GWU will materialise once the PL is voted into power.
Christian Azzopardi
Oct 5th 2009, 18:05
Tony Zarb is pathetic... And I'm certainly no PN supporter saying this.
First raising the membership fee by 10 Euros (a 33% raise) and then saying this speech?
Bah!
E. Vassallo
Oct 5th 2009, 18:04
Take it easy Jeremy, if 10 euros is nothing for you, then.....
joseph cachia
Oct 5th 2009, 17:58
Is this not the hypocrite who passed his life accomodated on the GWU payroll.
Whatever the GWU achieved for members, throu his capability..?????
Only done well for himself, opening his mouth like ..... and get paid for on members
pockets.
Jeremy J Camillleri
Oct 5th 2009, 17:50
J Farrugia...who exactly are we?
M Catania and David Thake...perhaps you should note that even Unions have to pay the electricity and water bills...but then again, I forgot that you don't consider them to be a burden a burden....
On the other hand, an increase of ten euros a year is a burden. Oh well.....
Joseph E Briffa
Oct 5th 2009, 17:46
Toni Zarb seems to be happy with the result of the GWU/MUT's efforts in the W&E tariffs issue. If he is, then why does Labour keep mentioning the 'crippling' effects of the new tariff structure on the cost of living? If the GWU/MUT efforts were a success story, then Labour should not keep mentioning the matter any longer . I tend to agree with Toni Zarb on this issue as the much- talked about increase of 150% that used to be mentioned by Joseph Muscat never materialised; indeed the increase is more in the region of 20%. So much for hot air,
Joe Micallef
Oct 5th 2009, 17:38
Dear Tony! more burdens in what sense…in the sense of additional burdens to the 30% tax increase you imposed on members. UNBELIVABLE!!!!!
GiovDeMartino@Tony Zarb
Oct 5th 2009, 17:35
Imbaghad x'taghmel Ton?
J Farrugia
Oct 5th 2009, 17:32
What a stupid speech! Not even able to read a speech. Not even a clapping of hands. Same old rusted delegates pertaining to the MLP and the GWU. ZMienkom spicca.
J Farrugia
Oct 5th 2009, 17:29
Dear Tony stop menacing this government since we have had enough of your diktats. Enough is enough for you and your time has passed. Resign if you have any further decency left in you. You even licked the shoes of HE the President after having removed him from his legal office. Shame on you and on your inconsistent union. Haven't you burdened enough your own members by the hefty fee of 33% up to 40 euros? Isn't this your hypocrisy?
David Thake
Oct 5th 2009, 17:21
Did he say this just after his Union increased its membership fees by 33%? Not exactly the best display of the promised consistency.....
M. Catania
Oct 5th 2009, 17:20
Prosit Tony. Fil-fatt ghalhekk tajt ezempju u ghollejt is-shubija tal-union!!!!!