Major unions court each other

The two largest trade unions have resolved to collaborate more in the best interests of workers.

In a meeting yesterday between the General Workers’ Union and the new top officials of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, the trade unionists agreed on the need to improve their working relations.

The GWU said it had long been calling for better collaboration between trade unions in Malta.

Its general secretary, Tony Zarb, said good relations did not mean that the unions would lose their autonomy. They shared common ground on a number of subjects including precarious work, occupational health and safety and continuous learning and development.

He mentioned the possibility of organising joint seminars on these subjects.

UĦM secretary general Josef Vella said this would not be the first and last meeting between the two unions. There had already been collaboration between them in the past on specific cases and workplace situations, away from the attention of the media.

He invited the GWU to work with the UĦM to present a common front in talks on a new collective agreement for the civil service.