An affiliate of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions will not take part in the protest against the increase in water and electricity tariffs being organised by the Ghaqda Unions Maltin but told its members it left it up to their discretion whether or not to participate.

In a statement this morning, the Malta Union of Professional Psychologists said it shared the CMTU’s belief that at a time when the country was struggling to come out of difficult moments, the priority should be employment and investment.

It also believed in the process of social dialogue that should be open, transparent and genuine and that respected every opinion on the weight of its own merits and not on the merit of who expressed it.

However, the MUPP said it also believed in the freedom of expression and in the fundamental right of peaceful protests – rights which were respected in the EU and in every country which believed in true democracy.

"A genuine and open dialogue process can help to prevent the need to protest - one, however, does not exclude the other. History shows us that many times social dialogue occurred as a result of one protest or other."

It said that although it respected the CMTU’s position and would not participate officially in the protest, consonant with its strong belief in the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and all the other democratic rights, it was leaving it up to the discretion of members whether or not to participate.

The MUPP said it agreed with the conclusion of the CMTU president’s statement that the spirit of trade unionism would flourish if it would have one agenda – the greatest interest of the workers and the citizens they represented, in view of the common good.