The GWU has turned down an invitation by the CMTU for a memorandum of understanding aimed at launching a process for closer unity among trade unions.

Tony Zarb, GWU general secretary, said the GWU could not accept the invitation while the CMTU continued to oppose the possible membership of the FORUM group of Maltese trade unions in the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

CMTU president William Portelli said last Friday that his organisation was “leading by example” in its attempt to bring unions closer together with, among others, the introduction of “ethical trade unionism” and the avoidance of “further fragmentation”.

He said its bid would start with a proposed memorandum of understanding with the General Workers’ Union, the other Maltese representative on the ETUC. It hoped the agreement could then be rolled out to other organisations and confederations such as the FORUM, the umbrella organisation composed of 12 unions.

The aim was to strengthen cooperation among trade unions, something the ETUC had complained about.

Asked whether this could be interpreted as a step towards setting up a Trades Union Council, a call made numerous times in the past, Mr Portelli did not exclude this happening but said the CMTU wanted to take “one step at a time”. That would be another phase, he said.

In his reaction today, Mr Zarb said that if the CMTU lifted its opposition to FORUM's membership of the ETUC talks on unity could start, but they had to start from a clean slate, rather than using the CMTU document as a basis.

Cooperation between the trade unions needed to be real, not one of convenience, he said.