The social partners will not attend Labour's "national manifestation" against the new water and electricity rates tomorrow because they perceive it as a partisan event.
Representatives of the social partners said that, although they do not approve of the government's tariffs, they did not want to be seen to be taking political sides on this subject, which was of national interest. Many said they feel demonstrations will not solve anything.
On announcing the demonstration last week, Labour leader Joseph Muscat stressed that the "national manifestation of courage" was not a party but a national activity. He encouraged people of all beliefs to stand up against the tariffs by joining the event tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. in Valletta.
The General Workers' Union, considered by many to be a Labour traditional ally, will be attending. The union even called a protest of its own for Thursday.
Alternattiva Demokratika will be shunning the protest. A party spokesman, Ralph Cassar, said the Green party would have taken part, as a sign of support, had the demonstration been organised by the social partners but it will not attend, given that the protest will be led by a party and a specific union.
The general secretary of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, Gejtu Vella, said his union prides itself on its independence and will not attend political demonstrations.
Asked whether the union will turn up for the GWU protest on Thursday (also against the tariffs), he said this will be decided during a council meeting next week.
Similarly, the Malta Employers' Association's director general, Joe Farrugia, said he did not believe that such demonstrations will solve the situation, adding that the fact that the MEA will not participate did not mean it endorsed the tariffs.
The director general of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, Vince Farrugia, said the GRTU will not be attending the manifestations because it was its policy not to take part in political manifestations. The tariffs were "not the end of the road", he said, pointing out that he was determined to find solutions with the government to assist enterprise.
The president of the Federation of Industry, Martin Galea, and the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise's director general Kevin Borg said attending such manifestations was not their policy.
"The Chamber consistently refuses to be dragged into the political arena where, by definition, national issues cannot be discussed in a fair and objective manner," Mr Borg said.
William Portelli, president of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions and the Malta Union of Bank Employees, said both organisations will not take part in the MLP's political event. The GWU's invitation to Thursday's protest will be discussed next week.
The president of the Malta Union of Teachers, John Bencini, and the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Paul Pace, both said attending political manifestations went against their statutes. Their councils still have to decide whether to attend the GWU event.