Even though surveys and polls may sometimes be taken with a pinch of salt, it is hard dismissing them altogether, especially when they indicate significant shifts in behaviour or in confidence in the administration or institutions. The latest Eurobarometer survey, published by the European Commission, shows little or no surprises in Maltese trends, with the major finding, that about trust in trade unions, being perhaps the most obvious one.

In August last year, when national disenchantment with the trade unions reached its height, The Times summarised the situation in this way: "Is it at all surprising that even in Malta more and more people are giving the thumbs down to trade unions? It is not just what has been happening at the General Workers' Union these past few weeks that has thrown a shadow over the trade union movement.

"Never mind the past, with its glorious and inglorious chapters, recent months have given enough indications that all is not well on the trade union front and that the time has come for them either to adapt or die, as many unions in Europe are being forced to do in the face of declining membership".

Now, according to the Eurobarometer survey, trust in trade unions has plummeted from 42 per cent to 31 per cent. The turmoil within the GWU has done much to dent confidence in the movement generally but, although internal trouble within the GWU has probably been the major contributory factor in the downward trend in trust, there are other factors that may have hit the unions' credibility.

One is the doubt cast over their membership strength. It is totally unacceptable in this day and age to have a situation where a trade union membership figure is contested in the open, when union figures ought to be regularly audited. Unless this matter is resolved, trust in trade unions generally, not just in the GWU, whose membership figure is the one held most in doubt, will continue to decline.

It comes as no surprise either that trust in political parties has continued to drop, down to 26 per cent from 29 per cent.

As the two main political parties continue to build up their organisations, more and more voters grow disenchanted over the way they handle national politics. Their workload in Parliament may have grown, but the quality of their contribution is low, at times incredibly so.

What the growing number of uncommitted voters would wish to see is less blatant partisanship in matters of national interest. They argue, quite correctly, that the island is far too small to afford the kind of political games some politicians play. The problem is that those mostly at fault do not even care to listen attentively enough to the grassroot disappointment at their antics.

Trust in the press appears to be declining too. Again, it is not too difficult to pinpoint shortcomings, particularly in the media controlled by the political parties. Pluralism in broadcasting was not meant to bring down standards to the low level they have reached today. Luckily, more and more have become discerning listeners, but again the parties do not appear to have their ears to the ground close enough to realise that in the end they may be losing, rather than gaining, credibility. This is not to exclude altogether the chinks in the armour of the print media.

What stands out a mile in the survey is the high level of trust placed in the police (72 per cent) and in the army (77 per cent). Well done indeed.