The General Workers' Union wants to take to the streets to protest against the government and against the utility rates. If there ever was a classic case of two weights and two measures this would certainly be it. The convenience of silence back in 1997, when Labour exploded the tariffs, contrasts sharply with present-day actions and it is evident that the GWU continues doing what it has done for the past 20 or so years, that is try to facilitate Labour's route to government and power at whatever cost.
It is unfortunate that Malta's largest union is so biased. The GWU is doing a disservice to its members and, indeed, to the country. Instead of concentrating on dialogue to help improve the standard of living of our workforce, it is obsessed with instilling more uncertainty by being militant and organising mass rallies (like the ones it failed to hold whenever Labour was in power) in order to protest about utility rates that, unfortunately, due to international markets, have gone up. But what does the GWU really want to protest about? What is really on their agenda?
Time and time again, the GWU has protested and taken people to the streets when it was in the interest of the Labour Party. The GWU speaks when the socialist progressive leader deems it fit to do so: Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the two entities were statutorily merged and one did not move if the other stayed put. When this partnership was dissolved, many optimists expected a union that would really stand up for the rights of its workers; instead we got a puppeteer and a puppet.
The GWU has had a series of mishaps throughout these last two decades; every time it had to go back and change its position. A classical example was its stand on Malta's bid to join the European Union but there are many more examples one can mention of when the GWU protested when there was no need to and when it remained silent when it should have stood up to speak for the rights of the Maltese workforce. Issues like those of Malta Drydocks, VAT, the Phoenicia Hotel and the airport are but a few of the cases where the union mishandled the situation in a bid to gain bonus points from its matriarch - the socialist party. Moreover, this union failed to give its contribution in key issues like the Social Pact and, again, one wonders why.
I started my political career in trade unionism and it is a sector I hold at heart. I think it is important for unions to have no links whatsoever with any political party and all action taken should be in the interest of the workers. That is what a serious union's role should be. Dialogue and persuasion should be the tools the unions work with. Other unions in Malta use these tools on a daily basis and many workers' conditions and rights are safeguarded in this manner. The union should be at the service of the worker. I'm sorry to say that in the case of the GWU it is the worker who has to be at the service of the union.
In relation to their reaction to the difficult but necessary economic decisions the government has been forced to take in recent times, I would recommend that the GWU ask Edward Scicluna for some advice on the matter. This week, the debate at the European Parliament was inundated with information on the tragic state of the economies of Greece, Spain and Portugal. Would the GWU rather we took no action and end up like them?
I have no doubt that the GWU can still give a valid contribution to the country. I know there are valid people working within the structure of the GWU who would do a much better job if they were to concentrate only on the rights of the workers. I hope the day will come when the marriage between the socialist party and the GWU will be dissolved in reality. Until then, anything this union says or does cannot be taken seriously.
Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.