We have once again, in the space of a few weeks, witnessed the reprehensible attitude which the General Workers Union took in regard to the negotiations of a social pact for Malta by the social partners.

By now, it must have become pretty obvious to all and sundry, that only the Union Haddiema Maghqudin and those other unions with the CMTU umbrella really have the workers’ interest at heart.

For the second time running, the GWU seemed to be taking part in the negotiations with the specific intent to disrupt the negotiations once the other social partners were close to an amicable and definite solution.

As in fact they were. The GWU must have a different agenda rather than the agreement on the social pact for Malta.

Because of the GWU’s intransigence, the second round of negotiations, which the UHM had worked so much for, have failed as well. Now we are worse off than when the GWU walked out and abandoned the negotiating table for the first time a few weeks back.

Thanks to the GWU’s refusal to agree on a social pact for Malta, all the workers in Malta are going to lose the following:

Fifteen days vacation leave instead of eight days in the years 2005-2008;

All the public holidays that fall on Saturdays and Sundays forever;

A real opportunity for the creation of work in our country;

A contribution by the employers to a fund for training, research and innovation;

Effective training for those registering for work;

Government would have committed itself not to increase income tax and VAT for four years;

Government would have committed itself to discuss at MCESD level any new tax measures;

Scrutiny on government expenditure, including capital expenditure;

Revision of the price index and hence, the cost of living adjustment;

Effective measures against tax evasion by means of bench marking for those who declare less than they actually earn;

Better working conditions for part-timers and those who work for less than twenty hours per week.

This is why the UHM gave the nod to a social pact for Malta. A social pact would have been in the best interest of all Maltese workers, pensioners and their families.

Angelo Vassallo

San Gwann