The Malta Union of Bank Employees refers to the General Workers’ Union’s letter in last Saturday’s issue of The Times (April 20) and would like to comment as follows. More members joined the MUBE since the start of the GWU attack on it. The MUBE has no claims of intimidation or harassment against any of its union officials.

It adopts a proactive and positive approach, which contrasts sharply with the unacceptable style of the GWU. The MUBE always seeks to secure very good, sustainable agreements.

It is now perfectly obvious to the stakeholders and to the public that the GWU is stooping to a new low and any signs of a professional attitude and approach are fading away, as can be judged by the public comments made and the press releases issued lately.

The MUBE considers the vicious attacks on it to have been premeditated and motivated by a desire to disrupt its good and healthy relationship with the management of Bank of Valletta. This is certainly not in line with much-vaunted calls for ‘solidarity’ in the trade union movement.

The MUBE considers the GWU’s letter as defamatory and as containing false accusations that are aimed at fomenting tension and a divide-and-rule approach. Such an attitude is strongly opposed in today’s democratic workplaces by international trade union confederations.

The MUBE can confirm that membership among BOV employees increased steadily over the past weeks as they are realising that only a sectoral union that is fully focused on the financial services sector, as opposed to a union that dedicates only a ‘section’ to financial services, can really and truly provide the most effective protection to workers in the workplace and improve working conditions and benefits.

It is, of course, very convenient for the GWU to ‘interpret’ facts in its favour. Facts and statistics confirm that the MUBE has been the sole bargaining agency for BOV employees and the exclusive bankers’ union that proposed and implemented 95 per cent of the proposed clauses of the excellent collective agreements at BOV signed over the past 20 years.

In the same manner, the MUBE interprets the recent increase in membership as an unfailing willingness by its members and staff at BOV to continue fully supporting it in recognition of its sterling work throughout the years and the commitment of all committee members and numerous employees.

The comments made by the GWU are frivolous and indicate total panic. This is because it now realises that union membership is not actually just politically motivated but is linked to the effective and strong ethical beliefs and hard work put in by workers’ representatives vis-a-vis financial services employees. Every employee has an inherent right to select the union of his choice. This is the reason why the MUBE represents the majority of employees in the largest banks in Malta.

The incorrect and defamatory statements made by the GWU seek to encourage a fear factor that is not acceptable in 2013 and is reminiscent of bygone days. It is indeed pitiful to read such irresponsible statements, which can only inflict self harm, rather than do any good, and portray a bad image of unions.

The MUBE is always open to communication and remains loyal to all its members and employees by providing the best possible expertise in the financial services sector and the best negotiating teams to conclude the most favourable agreements.

It is committed to continue to work with management to ensure more opportunities are created for the benefit of the stakeholders concerned. Industrial peace has been the corner-stone on which the financial services industry in Malta was built – harmonious industrial relations which, up to now, have successfully complimented the ‘robust and stable’ banking and financial services sector, encouraging job creation in this important sector that is now contributing to 12 per cent of Malta’s GDP.

It is of paramount importance that industrial relations in the financial services sector remain stable for the benefit of all stakeholders.