Addressing a mass rally at Labour Party headquarters in Hamrun, Dr Sant said the party’s decision to celebrate the occasion today did not mean that it was stopping or discouraging people from celebrating Malta’s European Union accession which he described as “the new reality”. He said the MLP is duty bound to dedicate this day to the workers and celebrate it as it has always done throughout its entire history.
Dr Sant said the country’s and the world’s realities might change but the MLP will continue adhering to its principles which places Maltese and Gozitan workers at the forefront of the party’s work. “We really care about Maltese workers and that it why we had to decide. It is because of our respect for the Maltese workers that we will be celebrating Worker’s Day and invite you to celebrate with us,” he said.
He said the MLP was a Party which looked to the future and will be joining workers’ movement around the world to celebrate Worker’s Day – the only day really dedicated to workers. The problems the country was facing had been brought about by the Nationalist government because it is not interested in the Maltese workers, he claimed.
He also extended an invitation to those people “of goodwill” to support the MLP in its efforts to defend workers’ rights, their jobs and their working conditions. He called on people to attend the demonstration the party was organising in Valletta today. “We are not ashamed to say that we are Labourites, Socialists and Leftists because we do all this in the best interests of the workers and their families as well as for the country’s pensioners and the elderly,” he said.
In a brief intervention, both Labour deputy leaders Michael Falzon and Charles Mangion spoke about the need to celebrate Worker’s Day. Dr Falzon said the MLP has been celebrating the day since it was established 80 years ago, adding that another reason was because the MLP has always based its work and principles on the importance of employment.
Dr Falzon spoke about the 9,000 people on the unemployment list as well as the government’s over-spending in various fields. He said the situation at Air Malta, Sea Malta, the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd and the Malta Drydocks were all the result of a government which has no conscience.
On Malta’s EU accession today, Dr Falzon said the MLP accepted the new reality but continued in its efforts to protect the workers and their families from the decisions the government had taken. Concluding, Dr Falzon said the MLP was, is and will remain the party which really cares about Maltese workers.
Dr Mangion spoke about 1 May as the day which brings all workers together and unites them, and this was exactly what the workers should do in these difficult times through which the country was passing.
Dr Mangion said the Nationalist Party was paralysed and had not fielded good people for the EP elections to be held on 12 June. He said only the MLP candidates could really represent the workers because they have always worked in the national interest.