Tributes to 'exceptional' trade union leader

Tributes poured in yesterday for Alfred Buhagiar, the president of the Confederation of Maltese Trade Unions who died suddenly on Wednesday.

Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant said Mr Buhagiar was a leading trade unionist who throughout his long career showed strong will and courage. "I always admired his frankness and lucidity. The trade union movement has suffered a great loss," Dr Sant said.

The CMTU highlighted his activities as a trade unionist and his participation in local and international fora. Mr Buhagiar was also one of the founders of Caritas and for a time served as vice president of the Catholic Action Movement.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin said it was not only the trade union movement that has suffered a loss but the workers in general. "Mr Buhagiar was active in the trade union movement until the last hours of his life. The UHM feels privileged it worked closely with him both when he led the Malta Union of Teachers as well as when he was president of the CMTU," the UHM said.

Rudolph Cini, speaking on behalf of FOR.U.M., embracing eight trade unions that recently grouped together to exert pressure to be included in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, hailed Mr Buhagiar's qualities as a trade unionist.

The Malta Employers' Association expressed its deep sorrow at the news of Mr Buhagiar's demise. MEA director general Joseph Farrugia said: "I had known Mr Buhagiar since the early 1980s when he was president of the Malta Union of Teachers and I was also involved in the union at the time.

"Alfred was a man of integrity and committed to his beliefs. Mr Buhagiar always went out of his way to promote trade unionism in Malta. He will be missed."

The Malta Federation of Industry said it was shocked to learn of Mr Buhagiar's sudden death.

The FOI said it wanted to pay tribute "to this exceptional leader" within the trade union movement who showed by his example the way to other opinion formers in the country, earning the respect of the FOI and other representative organisations within the MCESD.

The FOI said Mr Buhagiar, a teacher by profession, was a man of principle who lived and died in the service of his fellow workers. "He was known to be a morally correct person at all times, serving loyally the Malta Union of Teachers as president for 22 years and in later years heading the CMTU with the same enthusiasm and loyalty.

"Mr Buhagiar continued to do this selflessly for a number of years beyond the age of retirement until the very day of his death," the FOI said.

The Malta Union of Bank Employees said it wished to express its sorrow at the death of Mr Buhagiar.

"His contribution to trade unionism has been enormous, both locally and internationally. Mr Buhagiar's latest significant contribution was undoubtedly his full participation in getting an agreement to the national pact - no easy feat," the MUBE said.

The Medical Association of Malta also expressed its sorrow at his sudden demise. It said Mr Buhagiar was one of the fathers of modern trade unionism who remained active in his field till the very last moment, working tirelessly for the benefits of Maltese workers, the association, a CMTU affiliate union, said.

The MAM said that although his untimely death was a great loss for trade unionism and for the country, his achievements, honesty and integrity will be of great inspiration for all those working in this field.

In expressing sorrow at Mr Buhagiar's death, the Social Assistance Secretariat of the Catholic Action Movement said that as president of the secretariat between 1965 and 1994 he was instrumental with others to give a sound structure to the secretariat to enable it to help persons in difficulty to find the assistance they needed. In 1968, Mr Buhagiar had worked for the setting up of Caritas Malta together with the Social Action Movement.

All the organisations expressed their condolences and solidarity with Mr Buhagiar's family.

As a sign of respect, the UHM postponed its general council meeting, which was due to be held yesterday.

Mr Buhagiar's funeral will be held at St Dominic parish church, in Valletta today at 8 a.m.