The Confederation of Malta Trade Unions is seeking legal advice on comments made by outgoing teachers’ union president John Bencini in an interview, including claims he received a threat from a high union official last July.

Mr Bencini told The Sunday Times that the person, who he did not name but said was a “very prominent” person involved in the island’s trade union sector, had called him and told him to beware because he risked having a funeral with a church half empty.

The CMTU did not refer to this accusation in its statement but its president William Portelli said this was one of the comments on which it was seeking legal advice.

In the interview, Mr Bencini said this phone call was the key to explaining why Forum, the confederation of 11 unions he heads, was facing such obstinate resistance from within the ranks of the CMTU to its membership of the European Trade Union Confederation, and a seat on the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development.

“I am convinced this whole thing explains why Forum is being persecuted,” he said.

But referring to these comments, the CMTU insisted this was “absolutely false and irrelevant to the whole present scenario”.

“CMTU’s proposed action plan is based on principles and values which should lead to unity on a step by step basis moving cautiously from one level to another and some contents of this interview practically go against the spirit of such an understanding,” it said in its statement.

The CMTU said it continued to believe in “a gradual approach to achieving unity among trade unions” but added that for this to happen, it was “essential to continue working for a harmonious environment characterised by mutual respect and ethical trade union behaviour”.

At the end of its statement, the CMTU “acknowledged” Mr Bencini’s 15-year tenure as Malta Union of Teachers president and looked forward to working with his successor designate Kevin Bonello.