GWU disappointed by police house union proposal

Eddie Attard

Nov 29th 2011, 16:38

There were times when representatives of the Malta Police Association had the privilege to hold talks with the Prime Minister as minister responsible for the Police. Is the eventual Police House Union going to have this privilege?

Manuel Camilleri

Nov 29th 2011, 16:36

"Meanwhile, the Malta Police Association said it welcomed the proposed amendments through which it will be transformed into a house union for policemen.
It said in a statement it had been insisting on this since 2005. It noted it had always insisted its members should not have the right to strike". Which part of this statement the GWU failed to understand? Or maybe it is disappointed that it won't have any "control" in this sector?

charles tabone

Nov 29th 2011, 16:36

For the sake of unity, uniformity and our citizenry's security, I agree with the minister that the Police join their own house union. Fragmentation would do no good neither to the police force nor to the general public. Politics apart, I feel that Dr Mifsud Bonnici's suggested amendment makes a lot of sens.

Dennis Zammit

Nov 29th 2011, 15:45

How can the head of a department and its managers be ALL in one union such as the Police Association??

Doesn't the Minister know that the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner, ALL the Assistant Commissioners, Superintendents, Inspectors, Sargent Majors, Sargents and Constables are all members of this Association?

So who will the union represent? The lower grades or his Boss, the CoP or others against whom they have the problem?

Tal Genn man . . . qum mir-raqda!!

J.C. Borg

Nov 29th 2011, 14:59

In their own interest, the police should have their own union and not fragmented into different unions.

As the MPA said, it is better if "The union would be managed by policemen who had a better understanding of the needs of the force".

Philip Hili

Nov 29th 2011, 14:39

Possibbli li l-GWU ma tafx li tezisti l-EUROFEDOP - European Federation of Public Service Employees?

Jien cert li l-GWU taf li tezisti din il-Federazzjoni Ewropea li fi hdana hemm ukoll affiljata l-POA - Police Officers Association li taghmel xoghol kbir ghal pulizija mxerdin madwar l-Ewropa kollha. Jekk l-assocjazzjoni Maltija tal-pulizija ma kienitx effettiva, kul ma kien hemm bzon kien li jitbiddlu dawk li kienu qeghdin imexxu din l-assocjazzjoni.

Philip Hili

Nov 29th 2011, 13:54

Imma dawn in-nies hasbu li qeghdin jaghmluha ma xi corma bhahan jew fidili, inkella bciecen??

Jaqw il-GWU trid li l-pulizija jkunu jistghu jistrakjaw?

Veru qeghdha tajjeb il-GWU.....Mela fi zmien it-terrur, meta hi kienet parti mill-gvern Laburista u forsi ( ghax ma nafx) kopplici li l-haddiema tal-korpi ma jissiehbux fi "Trade Union" beqghed rieqda u ACCETTAT li l-haddiema tal-korpi MA JISTGHUX JISTRAKJAW!!!, issa, trid jew qeghdha tati lil wiehed x'jifhem li l-pulizija ghandhom jistrakjaw!!!!! Ma!!!! x'inkonsistenza!!!! Fejn kienet il-GWU fi zmien:- "Dirghajn il-Maltin", "Izragh u Rabbi", "Bahhar u Sewwi" u "L-Pijunieri"??????????

Ara ftit ta! ghax l-anqas jitwemnu dan l-affarijiet:- "In a statement, the GWU said it was surprised by this unilateral declaration by the minister, which meant that policemen would be denied their right of association." Good Morning Messrs GWU, where were you in the dark days of the Labour regime when you used to formed part of that administration when the conditions and rights of the workers who had to join one of the Military Corps?

Iva ma tisthux?? Ghandkom zejt f'wicckom? Dak iz-zmien ghad hawn hafna li ghixuh ta! ghadna niftakru kif kienet gabet ruha il-GWU ma' dawn il-povri haddiema!!!!

William Calleja

Nov 29th 2011, 13:45

Nice, a union of workers without the power to take action against their employers, that's VERY effective. No wonder they're not allowed to choose another one, or else the trap wouldn't work now would it.

Mr Eric Gahn

Nov 29th 2011, 13:03

While I fully back workers rights and Unions I do not think the GWU is being fair to the people of Malta in wanting police to join their ranks. The Police Force should be, as is, independent from external interferance and involvement. To be honest, I do not even think that police should be unionised. I say this with all due respect to all members of the Force. I understand they are still members of society and have families.

Mr Anthony Briffa

Nov 29th 2011, 12:56

OOOOP's. The GWU and its Tony Zarb are disappointed about the decision to recognise the Pole Association as a house union. What is wrong with this decision. Whilst for the police it is the right decision, for the GWU/Tony Zarb it is a disappointment because they will not be able to increase their membership and revenue, and of course they will not be able to cause problems to the PN Government.

After losing the drydock membership, sea malta, port workers, and recently with the overwhelming vote by the Air Malta employees regarding the re-structuring of the airline, they are realising that their power is collapsing and that by 2013 they will not be strong enough to act as the forcina of dear Joseph.

To ridicule themselves further they will report the matter to the European Trade Union movement, which represents the police and the military. Furthermore, when the Police House Union will join this movement, the GWU/Tony Zarb will look even more ridiculous.

Saviour Aquilina

Nov 29th 2011, 12:42

They are free and do what they good for them, they know that if they join the GWU, same as they join the PL.

So they will do the best for them, because now the GWU cannot USE THEM.

victor caruana

Nov 29th 2011, 12:41

It is all a matter allowing the police to have their say on this matter. With the next PL government the police should carry out a secret vote to decide whether they want their house union or choose freely for their union.

Just imagine how many strings would be attached to the leaders of this house union-----I'm sure they will look more like puppets on strings than union leaders.

Joseph M Scicluna

Nov 29th 2011, 12:34

"The Malta Police association had been insisting since 2005......." Same Association had been insisting since the 1960's for the Police retirement pension to commensurate with the current cost of living - all fell on deaf ears. A couple fo years ago, during a dialogue held at the OPM Castille, I aired this fact to the Prime Minister who said he will take the matter into consideration - again since then, nothing happened.

George Calleja

Nov 29th 2011, 12:23

The GWU's interest is not towards the police themselves but an attempt to increase its membership. A house union is the best in the police's interests. They know pretty well their problems and only they can solve them.

joseph saliba

Nov 29th 2011, 12:23

amazed at the GWU love for freedom of association

Nathan Young

Nov 29th 2011, 12:18

The Armed Forces and Police Force should always have their own union looking after their needs.Unions like the GWU etc.should not be permitted to interfere in the security of the Country for political reasons.
I am a former soldier of twenty five years service and I speak from experience.The Government should have full control over these Forces,not some Union leader.

Joseph E Briffa

Nov 29th 2011, 12:11

How can anybody imagine that police officers will join either UHM or GWU, or some, one union and some, the other? Does anyone want to politicise the police force? Like in other countries, the big unions in Malta have their own political leanings; the GWU comes across as a Labour sympathiser, and UHM as a PN sympathiser. Imagine the two unions vying with each other to have the majority of members within their fold and arguing which union should deal with the authorities.There would be chaos within the force.Does anybody think this would be a good solution? The police force should not only be above politics but also seen to be above politics.

Joe Cordina

Nov 29th 2011, 12:01

I think that this is only a half baked measure. The police association / union would still be under the management of the police commissioner. I just wonder how this could operate as its committee would still be under strict police discipline. If the government really has the police at heart it should allow police officers to form part in any union of their choice.

John Said

Nov 29th 2011, 11:43

What did you expact sur Zarb, that you start controlling the police force?

Charles J. Buttigieg

Nov 29th 2011, 11:38

A house union is like a a sailing boat without a sail.

Saviour M Garzia

Nov 29th 2011, 10:41

Hope that this time the MPA requests are meet by the authorities concerned, as it has been years of long discussions. If the Minister for Internal affairs is appointed to a new ministry or replaced by general election why should discussions with the MPA start afresh? The Police officers need backing in their work and not hinderance. As for thougher measures against those carrying out physical and violent assaults against public officers,a request signed by the relatives of all police officers should be presented to the Authorities and a press release issued so the Maltese citizens would know who lacks the initiative.