Vincent Esposito

Richard A. Matrenza, Ambassador Emeritus, writes:

Vincent Esposito, a stalwart of trade unionism in Malta, passed away on Friday, May 11, 2012. He was 86.

For 70 years of his life Vince was actively involved in the trade union movement in Malta and abroad, frequently and repeatedly representing the General Workers’ Union of Malta.

He was the first full-time secretary, convenor and negotiator of the GWU after it was officially born in October 1943. He represented port labourers, employees within the Port and Industry Section of the same general union.

Vincent Esposito was an able negotiator and a very capable and articulate representative of workers and employees when he pleaded their case, more successfully than otherwise, during sittings and hearings of industrial disputes before Arbitration Tribunals.

He was a respected delegate in international fora for many years in succession. It is little wonder that the Republic of Malta sought to honour him most deservedly with the prestigious decoration of Gieħ ir-Repubblika. His same alma mater, the General Workers’ Union he so loved unreservedly and worked for with ardour and professionalism, also gave him a high mention and honour in October 2010.

Vincent may have been retired officially in his later years when he was past 60; but he was never tired. He presented himself practically daily at the Workers’ Memorial Building in South Street, Valletta to continue giving of his time, experience and youthful energy as Secretary of the Veterans and Pensioners Section of the GWU practically up to the very eve of his biological life.

Dear “friend and brother”, in the one-time jargon of trade union salutations and endings, I bid you good-bye.

Vincent Esposito is survived by his all time love and wife Yvonne, his children Marisa, Ivan, Roberta and their spouses and grandchildren.