GWU calls for union rights to policemen, soldiers

Manuel Scicluna

Oct 28th 2009, 06:43

Unfortunately the Police Corps has no right to join a union to defend their rights and that's why the government has took the advantage not to pay for their duties.

J Busuttil

Oct 27th 2009, 17:09

Yes police should be given the right to chose a trade union to join in. Some months ago the UHM brought to Malta the President of The European Police Union which is affiliated like UHM in Eurofedop and in a joint press conference requested Government to recognise the right of Police force members to join a union.

c. camilleri

Oct 27th 2009, 15:38

The GWU never called for union rights to those jobless persons who had to join our pioneer corp. How time changes!

Anthony Castillo

Oct 27th 2009, 15:23

It looks like that the GWU hits the bottom and it is crying for mercy for the simple reason that they are loosing its members like crazy. My advice to the police force is that if they choose to join a union they choose an independent one which for a very long time prove that it was independent and the history of the union was never in any cabinet of any government.I ask the POLICE FORCE not to let any body to use them for political reason.

J Farrugia

Oct 27th 2009, 15:11

Dr ERtienne Calleja does not need to inform one and all what he is. It goes against lawyers' ethics. But the principle remains that the police should not be given any rights of forming a union. Just see what a foreign police union did when it went on strike action against its government for more pay. The thieves and murderers had a field day. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT US TO BE????? dr calleja. no way. and we know what the malta police are capable of doing when given the ropes. Tal-barrani is still a reminder. The firing of guns at Rabat is still fresh in our memories.

Joe Cordina

Oct 27th 2009, 13:53

it is high time that something is done to alleviate the uneccesay hardships sufferred by the police. The inhouse club or union as some called it is an associationwhich is working against all odds, and believe it or not is headed by the commissioner of police who would not budge in favour of its members not because he is against them but because he has to answer to the government and his minister direct.
Giving the police a right to form a union with industrial rights does not mean that they would just go out on strike but could take measures to put pressure on the government to hear their pleas. This is already in force in many democratic societies. In Malta sectors that are vital to society like doctors and workers at the power station, still have the right to form a union and take industrial action, so why not the police. They have been suffering too long and the result is having a very low moral within all ranks. Partisan politics apart, this should be tackled so that the police would be given what they deserve and not short shifted each and every day of their working life.

c.t. busuttil

Oct 27th 2009, 13:28

If it happens, I pray they will join a non-political, independent union which will cater for them but consider the good of the nation.

Galea. L

Oct 27th 2009, 13:16

Mark Galea
I didn't send that posting that you refer to.
Do you think that I am the only Galea. L in Malta?
Besides notice it was L. Galea not Galea. L.

Franco Farrugia
So do you agree that our security forces are made to work more than others and not be paid for overtime? Is that what you mean Franco? Do you agree with the Lm125 salary increase per week for the PM, Ministers and PS's while the rest of us lesser mortals only get €6.06?

Galea. L

Oct 27th 2009, 13:10

Franco Farrugia
So do you agree that our security forces are made to work more than others and not be paid for overtime? Is that what you mean Franco? Do you agree with the Lm125 salary increase per week for the PM, Ministers and PS's while the rest of us lesser mortals only get €6.06?

Alex Spiteri
And having the Police Commissioner (nothing personal) sitting on what you called their in-house club as they presently have with their association which is supposed to bring up complaints against those running the force?

Dr. Etienne A. Calleja

Oct 27th 2009, 13:10

@ Alex Spiteri and Keith Davis

What the GWU is attempting to do, is beside the point. The point is not the GWU but recognition of civil rights for members of our security forces.

@All

The notion of prohibitng members of security forces from assembling into an organised union is passe`. Police Forces within modern democratic countries are repsented by their own unions empowered to take action, albeit curtailed, in the event of a dispute. Membership in some form of club with no power whatsoever will lead to the position we have today.

This, in essence, is the test of a government's democratic temperament. In other words, to what extent will government go in exercising its authority, or its abuse therof, over a body of persons that has no power, in turn, to keep it in check?

There is here, evidently, an imbalance. It is founded in a primitive mentality dating back to our colonial days. This position is untenable and ought to be done away with, once and for all.

Dr. Etienne A. Calleja is a lawyer in private practice and a former member of the Malta Police Force.

Mark Galea

Oct 27th 2009, 13:04

@L.Galea
Yesterday you were not so kind towards the police force. I wonder why? see quote

"L.Galea (22 hours, 55 minutes ago)
No problem, give them their overtime and then kindly regulate them like the rest of the working population to pension at the age of 65 and abolish the 25 years-of-service perk."

J Schembri

Oct 27th 2009, 13:02

I agree to the fact that the police should not join GWU/UHM but they should have their own recognised union just for their purpose, that is for police members only.

Our actual unions are too much politically orientated. But these people should have a union to turn to should they need something.

Franco Farrugia

Oct 27th 2009, 12:39

@ Galea L: Anything that goes against the present administration is 'perfectly correct' for you. We know that.

DVella

Oct 27th 2009, 12:20

Hmm . . . of course the GWU WOULD say that . . . think of how they could hold the entire country to ransom and bring everything to a standstill, including the breakdown of law and order, at the slightest whim or for the most frivolous political excuse, if the police and the armed forces were to join them?

Galea. L

Oct 27th 2009, 12:03

The General Workers Union is perfectly correct. Why should policemen and soldiers and also other persons have to work a 48 or 47 hour working week when the rest work for 40 hours? Why are they also not paid for their overtime on time? If according to the Prime Minister the financial situation is solid and we have nothing to worry about, why are they not paid on time? The Prime Minister did find money to award himself, his Ministers and PS's an LM125 PER WEEK salary increase.

Alex Spiteri

Oct 27th 2009, 11:58

"Policemen are employees as well..."

Police and Soldier aren't just a job in some factory but rather providing an important service to the state. It is true that both servicemen have all the rights to fight for their own conditions, but a union is the last place they should find refugee for their struggle.

Moreover they should organise their own in-house club similar to a union, even if such club should never have the right for a strike or other working directives. It will mainly serve as a representative body in order to forward their complaints and arguments under one voice.

If the GWU has some membership problems, they should study the situation and motive perfectly, and not to come up with another stupid proposal.

Keith Davis

Oct 27th 2009, 10:37

What opportunism!
I guess since they lost a great deal of member in the last two years, they are now trying to win some membership funds back.