Opposition leader Busuttil accused the GWU of betraying its members at Enemalta. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The General Workers’ Union yesterday refuted claims that it was keeping silent on Enemalta employees because it was in cahoots with the government, as the Union Ħaddiema Maqgħudin expressed concern about the workers’ future.

The controversy was fuelled following remarks made by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil on Wednesday.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the agreement signed between Enemalta and Shanghai Power Electric, which acquired a 33 per cent stake in the company, Dr Busuttil accused the GWU of betraying its members.

In spite of the fact some employees would end up losing some €8,000 a year as a result of this deal, the union had not uttered a single word, he said.

In a reply issued yesterday, the GWU challenged Dr Busuttil to repeat the “defamatory accusations” made the day before, without parliamentary immunity.

The union noted that contrary to the “threats” used by the former PN government that employees at the shipbuilding, Air Malta and Sea Malta would lose their job, the present Labour administration was open for talks and solutions.

The GWU pledged to keep working in the best interest of its employees, and that its resolve would not be affected by Dr Busuttil’s “threats”.

The Opposition leader should have outlined the future of Enemalta employees if the PN had been re-elected to government

Instead, the Opposition leader should have outlined the future of Enemalta employees if the PN had been re-elected to government, the union added.

Dr Busuttil issued a statement saying the GWU had only pronounced itself on the matter to defend itself from the criticism levelled against it in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the UĦM yesterday expressed concern on a number of transfers at Enemalta, complaining that they had been carried out with no consultation.

The union is seeking assurances on the employees’ future from the management. It also noted that requests to meet Enemalta over these concerns had been turned down. The UĦM questioned whether the transfers would affect the take-home pay of its members and whether there were plans to second Enemalta workers with government entities.