The Court of Appeal has ordered the continuation of a case former General Workers' Union official Karmenu Vella had initiated against the union for the payment of three months wages and 193 days vacation leave.
The union had requested the court not to hear the case, which, it argued, should have been lodged with the Industrial Tribunal.
It appealed the decision of the first court given in September last year.
In its decision, the Court of Appeal declared that the tribunal's exclusive jurisdiction was just in certain cases of alleged unfair dismissal.
Lawyers Robert Abela and Lydia Abela appeared for Mr Vella.