Trade union rivalry is causing concern – MEA

The president of the Malta Employers’ Association has expressed concern about trade union rivalry, after a spate of issues arose in 2014 following a year in which there were no strikes.

The issue was raised recently by Arthur Muscat at the MEA annual general meeting.

Unions obviously do all they can to increase their membership but while sectoral unions – such as the Malta Union of Teachers – have to persuade employees to sign up, others have to compete with other unions for the hearts and minds of employees. The General Workers’ Union has seen a 14 per cent increase in membership over the past five years (see table), reaching 46,831 in 2012/2103, while the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin’s has hovered at around 26,000.

“One issue which is worrying the association in the domestic industrial relations scenario is the rivalry and at times outright animosity between trade unions. Employers are being dragged into inter-union disputes with increasing frequency and this is upsetting industrial relations stability.

“One major source of such disputes is union recognition, with more than one union claiming to represent either an overall majority of employees or else a category which is in many cases loosely defined,” he said.

One issues that has lead to disputes is recognition at Bank of Valletta, which has stalled negotiations over the collective agreement, with the General Workers’ Union claiming it has won the majority previous held by the Malta Union of Bank Employees. The issue is now in court.

As it stands, it is up to the employer to recognise a particular union – or even more than one.

However, the employer can refer the matter to the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations to verify which union represents the majority of its employees. In 2013, there were nine requests for such verification.

The association has made recommendations for a clear method to settle recognition issues.

“We are also resisting any notions of introducing penalties for employees who – out of their own choice – opt not to form part of any union. Penalties in the shape of so-called representation fees to be paid by non-union members and forwarded to a recognised union are absolutely not acceptable. We are determined to defend the fundamental principle of freedom of association, which by definition also includes freedom of disassociation,” he said.

The MEA said that inter-union conflict is also destabilising collective bargaining.

“While, under normal circumstances, collective agreements negotiations occur with the parameters of the general economic environment, the company performance, and labour market relativities, an emerging trend that is worrying employers is that the collective bargaining is being conditioned by the pressures which a rival union may be making on employees to switch membership, with promises of a better deal.

“Such situations are undermining the foundations of industrial relations, are raising employees’ aspirations in an unrealistic manner, and leading to expensive settlements which weaken competitiveness. The Malta Employers’ Association insists that employers should not be dragged into disputes between unions, and should never be the victims of industrial actions resulting from such disputes.” Mr Muscat’s speech came only a few months after a strife-free year. There were no strikes in 2013, a stark contrast to 2009 when just three strikes resulted in 12,439 workers taking action and 7,595 man days lost.

How many man days were lost in each of the past five years?

Membership of trade unions