The Movement Zwieg Bla Divorzju this afternoon denied that it, or any of its members, had originated or circulated e-mails to employees at schools or any other places of work.

Earlier today, the Malta Union of Teachers complained that some school administrators were asking its members in an e-mail to support the anti-divorce campaign. It said it instructed its members not to reply.

The movement said that the e-mail was circulated by people who had asked members of the movement how they could support it and receive information, and were told to forward their email addresses to the movement’s address at info@zwiegbladivorzju.com.

It said it had said as much during the press conference when it was launched on January 12.

"As so often happens in this electronic day and age, this e-mail was circulated at random and, according to the MUT complaint, also by school administrators.

"The movement agrees with the statement issued by the MUT that these issues are totally unrelated to work, and that any employees wishing to support any movement unrelated to the workplace should do so on their own private initiative and, it would add, not during work hours."

The MUT said this morning that the e-mail its members were receiving reads:

“We have been asked by Mrs Sonia Camilleri, wife of Andre Camilleri, who is leading the anti-divorce campaign in Malta to help them out by sending them an e-mail confirming that you are against divorce in Malta giving your names and also if possible your mobile nos.

“This is to have our e-mails addresses in their register so should they want to send out any information, updates etc. they can do so."

It that a copy of this e-mail was being sent to employees by heads, directors, other school or institute administrators.

Reports of such cases had been received from a small number of Church Schools and from some MCAST institutes, the MUT said.

It said theseissues are totally unrelated to work and such e-mails constituted an abuse of power.

“All members are, therefore, directed to refrain from replying to such emails and to notify the MUT if such practices are going on in their school.

“If members want to support any movement unrelated to the workplace they may do so on their own private initiative.

“The MUT is also asking whether this practice goes against the Data Protection Act,” it said.