GWU 'would respect' EU referendum outcome

Although the General Workers' Union will on Wednesday be launching a campaign against European Union membership, its general secretary, Tony Zarb, said yesterday the union would respect the referendum result.

Mr Zarb said the campaign would be based primarily on the motion approved by the union in February, 2001, which had concluded that EU membership would have more disadvantages for workers than advantages.

The negotiations concluded at the Copenhagen summit last month had not altered the union's stand, Mr Zarb stressed.

Though the referendum date has not been announced, the GWU is warming up to play a prominent role in influencing public opinion.

Mr Zarb said the campaign would take into consideration the reports commissioned by the GWU about the effects of EU membership.

The union intends to convene a meeting for all its sections' executive members on Wednesday during which details of the campaign will be given.

The GWU will hinge its campaign on mass information and plans to influence public opinion through the media and the union's shop stewards.

A number of foreign speakers have also been approached to address workers and their families.

Asked how it was possible for the GWU to base its campaign on its EU reports when a number of them had concluded that membership was beneficial to the country, Mr Zarb said it was necessary to make a clear and important distinction.

"We are representing our members, not other sectors, and the reports took into consideration all aspects."

Mr Zarb claimed that all workers would be affected negatively by membership which, he said, would have a lasting effect on the economy.

"Suffice to say that over 2,000 people were laid off in the past year. There could also be an influx of foreign workers on membership.

"It's pointless telling workers they will benefit from better conditions as EU members when there is no work in Europe," he said.

Mr Zarb said it was a well known fact that state subsidies were being removed in several sectors to the detriment of everyone.

He claimed that Enemalta and port workers were among those likely to suffer most as a result of EU membership.

Asked how it was possible that the two major trade unions in Malta were conducting their EU campaigns in opposite directions, Mr Zarb said that each union had the right to weigh up the effects of membership.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin is telling people they will pay a high price if Malta stays out of the EU and that workers will be affected positively across the board as a result of membership.

But Mr Zarb has different views:

"Let's stop this illusion that all foreign trade unions are happy with what's happening in the EU. Just look at what the Italian and German trade unions are saying about the EU at the moment."

Mr Zarb said the GWU would respect any decision made by the people, but he would not comment, when asked, whether a Labour Party boycott of the referendum would confuse the electorate.

The GWU, he said, was the first organisation back in 1990 to declare that an issue such as the EU should be decided through a referendum.

"In the circumstances, each organisation has every right to take the position which it believes to be in its interest."

Asked whether the GWU hierarchy was united over the union's anti-EU position, Mr Zarb replied:

"Everybody has their own opinion on this matter. But when you form part of an organisation, you are duty bound and obliged to adhere with the official position taken.

"It's the majority which decides. That's democracy. And we are in agreement that everybody sticks to the decisions taken."