Efforts are being made to reconcile the main three main trade union blocs, which have been involved in an internal dispute.

Tony Zarb, the general secretary of the General Workers’ Union, yesterday said an independent person, whom he likened to a mediator, was aiding communication between the GWU, the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and Forum, Malta’s second confederation of unions.

Through the mediator, who does not form part of any of the unions involved, a “common document” was being discussed by the three sides, Mr Zarb said yesterday during the launch of a week-long programme of activities to mark Worker’s Day, which falls on May 1.

And as part of the activities, the GWU would be bringing leaders of the three sides together – Mr Zarb, the CMTU’s William Portelli and Forum’s John Bencini – for a public discussion on the theme of unity between them.

Trouble between the three sides erupted a couple of months back in Brussels when Mr Portelli, for the CMTU, opposed the affiliation of Forum with the European Trade Union Council.

The tension escalated when Forum accused him of blackmail and called for his immediate resignation.

But Mr Portelli vowed to stay on, with the CMTU saying on his behalf that there was no acceptable reason for anybody to “target or tarnish” his reputation.

Mr Zarb argued yesterday that the first step toward the setting up of a Trade Union Council was for unions to start understanding each other.

The GWU, he said, will continue doing everything possible to see this being done.

This public discussion will take place on April 29, the day after the vote in Brussels on whether Forum should join the ETUC.

“This will be a golden opportunity to take a concrete step forward,” GWU deputy general secretary Michael Parnis said.

The 28 activities between April 25 and May 1, based on the theme In Your Honour, Worker, are focused on workers and their families, and range from exhibitions to sports and public discussions.