The secretary general of the General Workers’ Union could not list the exact reason behind the dismissal of one of his officials telling a tribunal that the dismissal was "in the interest of the union".

Taking the witness stand in the case initiated by former official Josephine Attard Sultana against the union, Mr Zarb said the decision to fire her was taken by the national council on August 8, 2006.

Ms Attard Sultana is calling on the tribunal to declare that her dismissal from the union in 2007 abusive, illegal and without legal basis.

She is holding Mr Zarb, deputy secretary general Gejtu Mercieca and other union officials responsible for the damages she suffered as a result of her dismissal.

Lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona asked Mr Zarb if Ms Attard Sultana had been dismissed after the civil court had issued a warrant prohibiting the union from meeting to discuss her dismissal.

He replied that the delegates were stopped from holding an extraordinary general meeting for the public services section but the council, which had the power to remove anyone from their post, was not stopped from discussing her removal.

When asked if she was present for the meeting where her employment was discussed he replied in the affirmative and said that when the accusations were made, she was given the chance to respond.

However, when asked, for three times, why she was fired he answered: “because it was in the interest of the union”. At one point, Mr Zarb said that one of the reasons was that she did not comply with a council directive to meet the administration.

He said that the decision was taken after the council had heard all parties involved. Mr Zarb mpointed out that it was the delegates of her section who asked for an extraordinary general meeting for her removal.