Unions take exception to Sant comments

Several trade unions have taken exception to comments made by Opposition leader Alfred Sant, who while speaking at the General Workers' Union congress this week said the GWU would be a "privileged" partner in a future Labour government.

The Confederation of Trade Unions, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, the Malta Union of Teachers and the Malta Union of Bank Employees said Dr Sant's remarks would only serve to foment division between unions and create tension among workers.

CMTU president John Bencini urged Dr Sant to retract his comment or explain what he meant by the word "privileged".

"At this rate, workers will be asking whether they belong to the right union. The aim of unions is not political. I thought this 1980s tone would never resurface," Mr Bencini said.

With the help of John Monks, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, the CMTU was working towards the creation of a Trade Union Council, he added.

He described Dr Sant's comment as somewhat contradictory since the Labour leader told the CMTU during a meeting recently that he was prepared to work with all unions should his party be in government. Mr Bencini underlined that it was always prepared to work with the government of the day for the benefit of all Maltese workers, irrespective of their political beliefs.

UHM general secretary Gejtu Vella said that politically loaded statements did not help to boost the economy.

"The national good cannot be parochial or sectoral. We need to generate work and improve social justice, not labelling," Mr Vella charged.

Policies nowadays do not stem from the ideologies of parties but from the needs of the country.

"We were openly in favour of the EU but that doesn't mean we're Nationalists. In fact we are currently in disagreement with the government over a number of issues."

Accusing the Labour Party media of censuring the UHM, Mr Vella said it was high time for the party to open up its doors to all organisations to generate work.

The UHM had previously complained to Dr Sant about a similar preferential reference to the GWU that he made earlier in the year.

In a statement, the MUBE, the bankers' union, said that it is in every worker's interest that no preferential treatment or any political alliance should hinder any government to act equally with all.