GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said today that the union was backing a call by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association for an urgent MCESD meeting on the power tariffs but said the time for talks without results was over.

Speaking at a meeting for pensioners, Mr Zarb said the GWU and another 10 unions never stopped their fight against the high tariffs.

"The time for talks in now over. Now we need to meet to take action. We are not prepared to discuss without anything being done. It will be useless for the Prime Minister to continue with his sermons," Mr Zarb was quoted as saying in a GWU statement.

He insisted the people needed more money in their pockets, rather than bigger bills.

He also referred to the sewerage tax, which will be subsidised by the government, and said the government should declare whether this subsidy would be permanent.

He also referred to the reform of primary healthcare and said the GWU would not accept the introduction of any form of payment for health services.