Kristy Debono saw fit to attack the General Worlers’ Union in her article entitled ‘The GWU’s kowtowing act’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, March 15). Our fault, it seems, is that we are working with Enemalta management and government departments to re-deploy some Enemalta employees within government departments and entities to the satisfaction of the employees concerned.

According to Debono we should have taken to the streets to protest. When this issue came about we immediately sat down with the management to identify solutions and map out the way forward. This seems to be working very well, so much so, that both the PN and its preferred union seem to be very bitter with this approach. This is in direct contrast with the last few years of Nationalist administration when workers were either forced to take early retirement or sacked.

However, we will not shy away from taking any industrial action that we deem fit where and when this is required. The GWU has already taken industrial action in some government departments where we thought this was necessary. We are interested in our members and their families, whoever they are.

This policy is paying dividends, so much so that the GWU is growing fast with new members from all walks of life. Perhaps this is the reason why the GWU is being attacked so furiously by the PN and its preferred union.

Debono is not alone in attacking the GWU. We also know of certain PN MPs who are calling our members to switch back sides and re-join the PN’s preferred union at Malta Freeport Terminals (MFT). Here it seems the PN is not only in bed with its preferred union but also with the management.

The cases of injustices and poor working conditions that came to our notice do not even befit a company operating in a third world country.

Perhaps when Debono was thinking about the Chinese custom of kowtowing she was thinking what the workers at MFT have to endure with the blessing of the PN and its preferred union. We will defend these workers and leave no stone unturned so that their working conditions are improved and their dignity restored.

Finally, I would like to remind Debono and the PN that such attacks will boost our resolve.

We have survived 25 years of an uphill struggle where everything was thrown at us, such as forced early retirement schemes at strategic entities to weaken our strength and membership base, threats of imprisonment for resorting to industrial action and threats to our finances with disproportionate court actions. Yet, we are still alive and kicking, reaping the benefits of being competent, credible and consistent even throughout the worst period of our long history. We will continue to serve our members and their families as we have always done, to the best of our abilities, as we are accountable to only them.