Muscat in renewed call for trade union council

Union leaders should make it their aspiration to set up a trade union council that spoke with one voice, Labour leader Joseph Muscat urged port workers yesterday.

Addressing the general assembly of the Malta Dockers Union, Dr Muscat said workers had every right to join whichever union they wanted to and politicians should never interfere with this right.

“However, it saddens me that trade unions do not yet have a united front on various issues of national importance. The formation of a trade union council is a dream and looks like it will remain so for now. But it should be an aspiration for all union leaders,” he said, renewing a call he first made when meeting unions during the Labour Party leadership campaign more than two years ago.

The challenges facing the country required workers to unite. “Unity is important so that workers do not end up paying the price of decisions they did not take,” he said, in a fleeting reference to the difficult situation being faced by Air Malta employees.

The well-attended assembly was also addressed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who said economic reforms had helped the country stave off the massive problems afflicting other EU countries.

“The most important thing is to secure jobs because without jobs there will be no workers’ rights,” Dr Gonzi said.

He applauded the union for discussing port reforms around the table.

“You are a model of courage because you accepted change. A cowboy attitude will only scare investors away,” he said, insisting that results obtained through discussion benefited everyone.

The union was set up five years ago after port workers broke away from the General Workers’ Union. Although the bulk of its members are port workers, the MDU also represents other categories of workers who ply their trade in the port such as tally clerks.

Earlier this year the union received official recognition at Tug Malta.