Meeting the secretary general of the General Workers' Union, Tony Zarb before the MEP elections, he handed me a manifesto that read: Go and Vote For a Social Europe - Give Europe A New Social Deal. That was the slogan of the European Trade Union Confederation, better known as ETUC, the confederation that brings no less than 82 trade unions from 36 European countries together and the same confederation of which both the GWU and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin are members.

The ETUC is urging European member states to take action and engage all the concerned parties in a social pact in order to help our countries and our continent to emerge from the slumber that has affected society for the last months. It is time for all to pull in the same direction and steer the economy into safer waters. Failing to do so would open the doors to the emerging economies of Asia and the Indian sub-continent to gain ground on what we have achieved through decades of hard work, which gain will prove to be detrimental in the quest to ever recover from the cloud of recession that is hanging over us.

In the quest to excel, many times we forget what it means to cooperate and to work as a team for the common good and to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.

As a country we have thus far managed to weather the storm but that does not mean that all is plain sailing. The economic growth still needs to start gaining momentum and this is affecting job stability.

We have to focus on the changes that are happening around us and respond quicker to changes and, even if this means that our workforce needs to become more flexible through adequate training, we have to ensure that the working conditions are not tampered with and that all the rights the workers enjoy are guaranteed and safeguarded.

We cannot afford to change for the sake of changing; we have to keep in mind that economic and social growth walk hand in hand and that nothing can be achieved if the workforce is discontent.

This is a time where everyone has to pool in resources and ideas to find an ideal platform for a social level playing field. The government, employers' associations and trade unions should engage in healthy discussions to form an active social pact.

The GWU and the UĦM, which represent the vast majority of our workforce, should be on the frontline to form this pact.

Not only because such a pact is desired and promoted by the ETUC but, first and foremost, because it is in the best interest of our country and because it is in the best interest of the workers the unions represent.

This is not a time to rally and demonstrate and sing slogans. It is not the time to bring the workers out in the streets. It is a time when all parties should meet and contribute positively and to put the interest of our country before any other interest instead of causing more insecurity.

Trade unions should have a huge role in this situation. They are expected to perform well and should prove they are up to it. This is the moment of need. This is the time to prove themselves as true champions of the working class.

During the last 20 odd years we have achieved very good results in education. We have managed to make huge leaps in health care. We are attracting investment and we are offering better services to consumers.

This was possible because the government was always open for dialogue, because our government always sought the table of negotiations instead of confrontation. This was possible because our government wanted to instil peace of mind not insecurity in our people.

Now it is time to stand up and be counted. I have no doubts that the union leaders are intelligent enough to put the interest of the nation first and foremost and give their valuable contribution to form a social pact for the benefit of members and their families, that is to say in the interest of all Malta.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

david.casa@europal.europa.eu, www.davidcasa.eu

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