It would seem very difficult, if not practically impossible, for the trade unions in Malta to establish sound relations among themselves, much less to set up a trades union council, unless there is a wholesale change in the leadership of the main ones. And even this is not a guarantee that matters will be plain sailing after that, for the truth of the matter is that the attitude of a string of trade unions towards each other has hardened far too much to expect any miracles in this direction. But a change in leadership could at least help lay the ground for a new beginning.

All this is wishful thinking for there does not seem to be enough goodwill all round to stop once and for all the antics and the excessive rivalry that have restricted the movement from developing on lines that would have made it play a more effective role. The events of the past few days, involving the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions, the General Workers’ Union and the Forum, confirm that the chasm that exists among them at present is getting wider rather than narrowing.

One of the largest trade unions, the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, has already ruled out the idea of setting up a TUC, at least for now, arguing the situation is not ripe for such a move. In a way, it is right. But how can the climate in the movement improve? A squabble between the CMTU and the Forum now threatens to sour relations even further. A few days ago, the CMTU came out with a proposal which, it said, was meant to bring the trade unions closer together. In an effort to make the unions refrain from attacking each other in public, it proposed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the GWU, hoping that if the union were to agree to this, it would be rolled out to other unions.

There can hardly be any disagreement about this. The problem is that the CMTU’s move came only days after it reportedly put obstacles in the way of the Forum joining the European Trade Union Confederation. Quite justifiably in this case, the Forum, an organisation of 11 trade unions, has therefore found that the CMTU’s move in pushing for a memorandum of understanding quite ironic when only a few days before it hindered its affiliation with the ETUC. Apparently, the CMTU wants to see good relations being established with the GWU first before accepting new members in both the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development and in the ETUC.

Not to be outdone, the GWU has made its own proposals. It first wants the confederation to lift its opposition to the Forum joining the MCESD and the ETUC. The union suggests that, when this is done, all the trade unions meet and, without any impositions from any side, draw up a common document as a basis for discussion. Again, the ideas sound great but will they be taken up? It does not seem likely, not in an environment where sharp antagonism has been allowed to fester.

The spectacle of trade unions sniping at each other, as they are doing once again now, is most sad and can only lead to more bad blood among them. The GWU has had its fair share of sniping at other unions but maybe its proposal, sans conditions, is the best that could be thought of in the circumstances.