‘A union would have to make way’

Employers are insisting that one of the union representatives sitting on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development has to give up his seat for Forum, the new confederation of trade unions.

The Maltese Unions’ Forum is an umbrella organisation whose members represent a total of 11,000 workers. It has formally applied to join the MCESD but this can only take place if there is consensus among existing members.

Contacted by The Times, the Malta Employers’ Association and the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprise – GRTU, said that to allow Forum to sit on the council, one of the present members on the unions’ side would have to give up his seat.

GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said the present MCESD structure was balanced between government, employers and unions and including Forum on the council would create an imbalance.

“Now if the trade unions want to see Forum there, it is up to them to make way for its representative. If the unions resist this and the Forum wants to join as an additional member, then no way,” he said.

Similarly, Joe Farrugia, MEA director general, said: “We will not oppose Forum joining if one of the other unions gave up one of their seats. If not, we cannot have a situation where unions have more council members than the employers.”

Employees are represented on the council by the General Workers’ Union, the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, which is also a member of the CMTU along with eight other unions.

The unions that already have a seat on the MCESD are generally not against Forum joining the council in principle.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said his union had no problem with Forum joining the council. CMTU president William Portelli was also in favour but said it might require a re-think of how the council operates, as well as a review of its set-up.

UĦM general secretary Gejtu Vella did not give such a clear-cut reply when asked. “It’s too early to discuss Forum’s membership because it is still a relatively new organisation. Many organisations have asked to join the council over the years,” he said.

Mr Vella also asked whether civil society should have a representative on the council and whether the MCESD should become a four-partite body with unions, employers, the government and civil society.

Among Forum’s biggest members are the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses and the Malta Union of Teachers. Other members represent sectors ranging from university academic staff and aircraft engineers to Central Bank employees and public service architects.

mxuereb@timesofmalta.com