GWU boss warns of street protests

The general secretary of the General Workers' Union, Tony Zarb, yesterday called on the government to heed the union's advice and work hand in hand to heal the country's ills and safeguard jobs and the welfare state - otherwise the union would be forced to make the government do its duty.

The union was giving very clear signals to the government, Mr Zarb said at end of a general conference marking the union's 60th anniversary, which was on the theme "B'sahha w kuragg nghelbu l-isfidi" (Overcoming the challenges with strength and courage).

"Social justice, job protection, the protection of the welfare state, safeguarding workers' interests and pensions are very close to the union's heart and solutions have to be found that should guarantee all of these," Mr Zarb said.

"Forget your pride and come to look for solutions around the table or we'll take to the streets and do whatever we need to do to safeguard these things ourselves.

"Taking to the streets is exercising a democratic right and no one should stop workers from doing so, unless the government wants to have a dictatorial attitude."

Mr Zarb said that whenever the union resorted to action, the government had to move. A clear sign of this was given during the talks over the collective agreement for the drydocks.

"We told shipyard workers they had two options: to prepare to face the challenges or be swept away. At a rally we held for them, the workers showed that they were prepared to face the challenges and when the government saw such a sign of unity, it started talking differently," Mr Zarb said.

"Do not look at the union from a political point of view. Look at us as a trade union. We are a leftist trade union, as the left always cared for workers. The rest only turned to workers out of convenience."

He said the union would suggest to its members that they should shut the door on politicians seeking their votes, unless the politicians took clear positions based on social justice.

He appealed to other trade unionists "to forget pride and move closer to one another, as workers are going to need a strong trade union movement in Malta.

"The pensions issue should be tackled by a single united front and those unions that have workers' interests at heart should not have difficulty working together to ensure a decent standard of living and pensions for workers."

President Guido de Marco, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant were among the speakers at the conference.

Prof. de Marco praised the union for respecting the people's decision to join the EU. The discussion was no longer whether or not to join, but how to make the most of it, he said.

A union free of political ties had a strong contribution to make to Malta of the future, Prof. de Marco said.

The union's deputy general secretary Manwel Micallef spoke about the union's activities over the past two years and the delegates gave a standing ovation when he referred to the demise of Tony Coleiro, former head of the shipyard workers' section.

An even longer standing ovation was given when he spoke about Mr Zarb's resignation - which had not been accepted by the council - and said that the union officials were now working more closely together and augured Mr Zarb more years at the helm.

Mr Micallef was confirmed in his post for the next two years. The union's administration is reconfirmed or appointed at the union's congress, held every four years. Mr Micallef was appointed in Mario Cutajar's stead after the latter resigned in 2002.

At the end of the conference, a resolution proposed by the union administration, which was unanimously approved, expressed serious concern about the prevailing situation on issues such as employment, social services, medical services, pensions, finances and the economy.

The resolution calls on the government to create the necessary structures to attract investment, create job opportunities, consolidate and improve social services, rein in public expenditure, make better use of human resources in the public sector and effectively control tax evasion.