The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development was not a forum for "separatists",Vince Farrugia, director-general of the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, said.

He was reacting to demands by Forum, a group of 11 unions, to be given a seat on MCESD. Speaking on behalf of Forum, the president of the Malta Union of Teachers, John Bencini recently said Mr Farrugia was adamantly against this proposal and was the only person speaking against the move at a recent meeting.

Mr Farrugia has categorically denied Mr Bencini's claims, pointing out that the GRTU was represented by its president, Paul Abela, and that the only union that supported the Forum was the General Workers' Union.

"This is not the first time he has hit at me. I don't know why he keeps instigating the unions in the Forum and their members to hate me."

He said the MUT and other unions involved in the Forum used to form part of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and, therefore, had a seat on MCESD but chose to give it up in a "hasty decision" to break away.

Mr Farrugia said that during the meeting mentioned by Mr Bencini, Mr Abela simply said the GWU should give up one of its two seats to accommodate the Forum.

Mr Abela said it was up to the family of trade unions to offer the Forum one of their seats and the GWU was the only one with double representation, besides being "major promoters" of the Forum.

"So the solution is obvious: the GWU offers one of its two seats to its adopted partner. The MCESD cannot, every time there is a break away from one organisation, offer a new seat to the new separatist group. The story would be unending. Imagine what would happen if tomorrow the Malta Hotels and Restaurant Association, the GRTU and then the CMTU break up; we would have to have a new seat every time."

The GRTU said that although it was registered as an employer's association, it was not part of the employer's "bloc" on the MCESD and was there to represent the self-employed, small business owners, retailers and service providers.

Mr Farrugia said the GRTU had sided with both the trade unions and the employers in different situations and was the most vociferous in favour of consensus at the MCESD.