Tony Zarb defends union's stand

The general secretary of the General Workers' Union has defended his threat of industrial action in the public and private sectors in sympathy with workers facing redundancy from government-controlled enterprises.

The union yesterday denied that it had failed to inform Sea Malta employees about an offer of job safeguards after the company has been sold off, as reported yesterday in several sections of the media.

The offer has cast a shadow over the union's battle cry to mobilise people and take to the streets over redundancies, although it is also fighting to save the jobs of a number of workers at Interprint, which is to close down.

Contacted yesterday, GWU secretary general Tony Zarb insisted that all workers in government entities could, at one time or another, be affected by the measures the government wanted to take.

Asked if the government's proposals for Sea Malta workers were acceptable to the union, he said the fact that negotiations were still going on meant they were not.

Mr Zarb was asked if he was taking such a tough attitude because he would shortly be up for re-election. He replied that he was taking such an attitude because this was a just cause in favour of workers. Asked why the private sector would be included in the union's industrial action, he said this was what solidarity was all about.

To the suggestion that the union's actions and declarations would damage the economy, Mr Zarb said the union wanted to safeguard the workers' interests and in doing so it was safeguarding the interests of the country.

In a statement issued earlier, the union denied that it had not informed Sea Malta employees about the latest developments in the company.

It said that following a meeting with the Ministry for Investments on Tuesday, GWU officials had met the Sea Malta's workers' committee on Wednesday afternoon.

Early on Thursday morning, maritime and aviation section secretary Emanuel Zammit addressed workers at their place of work. During the meeting, the union said, he explained the latest developments regarding the issue, read the letter the ministry had sent the GWU and informed workers that negotiations were to continue in the coming days.