UHM hopes for serious talks on welfare reform

The general secretary of the Unjon Haddiema Maghqudin, Gejtu Vella yesterday reacted to the Finance Minister's declaration that welfare reform had to be tackled by the end of May, auguring that serious and meaningful talks would be held.

Mr Vella said the UHM had submitted proposals four-and-a-half years ago and it hoped that "discussions will be serious, constructive and meaningful so that there will be no losers".

"The government seems to be in a hurry to reform pensions and the welfare system. You cannot set a deadline and work backwards. We are an independent trade union and our independence from political parties is a very important part of our character.

"We shall shoulder responsibility for what we do and expect those who are making statements that solutions have to be found within these tight time frames to do likewise. It is not our fault if things did not happen during the past four-and-a-half years."

Mr Vella was speaking during an activity in which flowers were laid at Salvinu Spiteri's monument in Hamrun to mark May Day. Mr Spiteri was founder president of the UHM.

Mr Vella said May Day this year had added significance because Malta was now just one year away from EU membership.

The union had worked for EU membership and was now pleased that the result was clear and that Malta had established itself with other countries to benefit from the dynamism membership would provide.

Mr Vella spoke highly of Mr Spiteri. "It was he who laid the foundations for the free and independent trade union that the UHM is," Mr Vella said.

UHM president Gejtu Tanti said May Day should not only be celebrated by the political parties, which was why the UHM always marked the event.