The Confederation of Malta Trade Unions will “act responsibly” at a meeting in Brussels today that will determine whether the Forum grouping of trade unions will be affiliated to the European Trade Union Confederation.
CMTU president William Portelli was reacting to a Forum statement calling on the CMTU to support its entry to the ETUC at today’s executive meeting.
“It is usual practice that, in such circumstances, when a recommendation for acceptance is issued by the ETUC general secretary, as in the case of Forum, no vote is taken. However, in the last ETUC executive meeting held on March 9, CMTU asked for a roll call,” Forum said.
The Forum also said the CMTU had been asked to withdraw its call for a roll call, “as a gesture of goodwill”, but did not specify who had made the call.
The ETUC issue has caused friction between the CMTU, Forum and the General Workers’ Union, which has taken Forum’s side.
Mr Portelli yesterday stopped short of saying he would withdraw his call for a vote: “The CMTU has always acted responsibly and can justify whatever action the council takes. Vote or no vote, the CMTU will do the right thing and will continue to insist on its proposed plan of action, which includes working closely with the mediator and the ETUC for a long-term solution.”
In March, the CMTU launched an action plan in a bid to bring about unity among unions, for them to respect each other and to refrain from attacking each other in public.
But the proposed document was not acceptable to the GWU, which was asked to sign it. General secretary Tony Zarb said it would only engage in discussions on cooperation between unions if the CMTU recognised Forum as a new confederation.
In an attempt to ease tension, discussions are taking place between the three sides with the involvement of a mediator.
Forum said yesterday said progress had been registered in the meeting being held. “It seems that some progress was made and that things will continue to improve.”
Forum appealed to the CMTU to withdraw its roll call “so as to show clearly that recent developments, thanks to the mediator involved, have not been done in vain”.