The General Workers Union secretary general Tony Zarb today accused the Nationalist Party of trying to push people away from the union and urge them to join the Union Haddiema Maghqudin.

Speaking at the last section meeting before next month’s congress to celebrate the union’s 70thanniversary, Mr Zarb said that when the PN was in government the union was under constant ferocious attacks. These have not stopped now that the PN is in Opposition either, he said.

He claimed that attempts to break up the union in the past have always failed, and they will continue to fail because the GWU had strong foundations and the union had to be safeguarded in the interest of youths and pensioners.

He said that this year’s GWU congress is significant due to its 70th anniversary celebrations, reiterating that he would hold his position as secretary general but it would be the last congress he would be addressing since by the time the next congress takes place ( in four years' time), he would have entered retirement age.

He said that the congress would be spread over two days, between October 3 and 4, adding that the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition and GWU top officials are expected to address the congress.

Turning to precarious working conditions, an issue which has become synonymous with his speeches, Mr Zarb said that the union had made giant leaps in its fight against precarious working conditions in a matter of two years.

He said that the “plague” was hitting many workers and the GWU is doing its utmost to reduce or eliminate it.