UHM's deafening silence

I am anxiously awaiting UHM's calling us to take to the streets in protest at the forthcoming increases in water and electricity bills. During the short-lived Labour government of 1996-98 they were more than eager to criticise the government on the increase in utility bills.

But I may be fooling myself to wait for a militant stand by the UHM, considering that they did practically nothing when the tariffs of another essential commodity such as the telephone were raised.

If one were to ask where this government's social conscience has been dumped one is bound to look for it in the Maghtab mountain. Perhaps one might find some answers over there.

The UHM's leaders are often criticising others for having a hidden agenda but not mounting any form of public protest against these increases can only help to reduce their credibility not to mention the other working conditions which are facing indiscriminate attacks lately.

Weren't the UHM top brass the ones who instigated us to vote Yes for Europe with the promise of reaping fruit in the 'new spring'? In Malta, it seems that there is practically no single trade union which fights for workers' rights whichever political party is in power, least of all the UHM.