Rights that all workers should enjoy

The government's behaviour in trying to blame the workers at Enemalta Corporation for the cuts in the supply of electricity is condemnable. The cuts are the end result of a system that cannot sustain the increase in demand for electricity.

The workers have the right to choose to obey orders from a trade union, especially if such directives are related to industrial issues. Enemalta's internal report fails to point out that the government, which is also responsible for the corporation, is allowing the company to introduce neo-liberal reforms to break workers' solidarity by sub-contracting to private entities work done by Enemalta employees related to the security system.

We call on the government to respect the hard conditions under which workers at Enemalta work and stop using anti-democratic tactics. Recommendations made by the internal inquiry board are a direct threat to industrial democracy. If these enter into force they will be going against the workers' right to join a trade union and opt freely to obey union directives.

The government is using the present situation to justify the investment in the extension at Delimara power station and simultaneously trying to break the existing solidarity between workers. Workers should remain united in front of right-wing policies that foster a policy of divide and rule.