The FORUM group of trade unions said this afternoon that it will be writing to international trade union federations over attempts by the prime minister to make the MUT leave the group.

The FORUM said it was shocked by the government's manoeuvres to make the MUT leave the group.

Such manoeuvres, it said, were unethical and worrying, especially when it should be the duty of the prime minister to treat all trade unions in the same manner.

FORUM said that after the union held firmly against this poaching attempt, its president was invited back to the Auberge de Castille by the prime minister's chief of staff, where the same subject was discussed once more.

The FORUM noted that some years ago, former Labour leader Alfred Sant was rightly criticised when he described the GWU as a privileged trade union. Now it appeared that it was another confederation that was privileged, the FORUM said.

The MUT is the biggest union in the FORUM, which groups 11 trade unions.

The FORUM said it could now better understand the government's resistance to the FORUM's membership in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

GOVERNMENT REACTION

In a reaction, the Office of the Prime Minister denied pressuring any trade union to change its affiliation.

The OPM said decisions on a union's affiliation rested on the union's own members. The government respected such choices.

It also pointed out that the government had held a meeting with the FORUM on November 9, because it is not represented on the MCESD.