GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said today that the union’s National Congress this autumn will be his last as general secretary.

A union spokesman later explained that Mr Zarb is 59 and would be past retirement age by the time the following congress is held in four years' time.

Mr Zarb has been at the helm since 1999.

He made his comment during the general conference of the union’s transport section, which he also used to head.

In his speech Mr Zarb criticised comments by Air Malta CEO Peter Davies when he said that Air Malta needed strategic partners. He asked whether this meant that the airline's reorganisation had failed and the millions spent on it were for nothing.

He also called on Arriva workers not to be divided and never give up their quest for the conditions they deserved.

Mr Zarb also appealed to the government not to award contracts to employers found guilty of precarious employment.