It seems as if the GWU has not lost all hope of ever inducing the free trade unions to join her and form a Trade Union Council. I do hope that the leaders of these free trade unions – alias unions tac-cekcik – do not swallow the bait which is being repeatedly offered by a union with a very dubious agenda. I do not say a hidden agenda for the very simple reason that the GWU’s agenda has never changed during these past 50 years. The union’s unconditional and scandalous support for the MLP has never been hidden.
Not only has the GWU always supported the MLP but, this same union has never been in favour of establishing friendly relations with the other unions. I quote from Bonnici/Cassar A Chronicle of the 20th Century and from Pirotta’s Fortress Colony: The Final Act.
Fortress Colony page 449: “It was in 1959 that a determined effort was made to establish a Confederation of Trade Unions but it fell short of the ultimate objective of creating an organisation embracing all unions. The GWU was opposed to the idea from its inception”.
page 450: “Maltese trade unionism had remained unable to produce a robust equivalent to the British TUC...it (GWU) saw no advantage in associating with them (other unions)”.
page 450: “A further attempt to resuscitate the Malta TUC was made in 1949 by John J. Cole then Minister of Labour and Emigration but nothing was achieved due to the GWU’s lack of interest”.
page 450: “To others, the GWU was and remained too closely identified with the MLP. In fact as far back as 1947 MLP secures GWU’s total backing…the difficulty the GWU faced as a result of the divided loyalties of those who were activists in both the union and MLP (page 100). The latter demanded that the union should do its utmost to influence its members in favour of voting Labour (page101)”.
A Chronicle page 343: “The overtime ban in support of a claim over industrial workers’ wages is lifted after Mr Mintoff addresses the men at the Drydocks. (Mintoff had just been elected Prime Minister)”.
page 428: “Meanwhile, a work to rule directive issued by the Malta Union of Teachers…is changed into a two-day strike after the Labour government locks out teachers. The strike is extended by another three days… unknown persons break into the MUT headquarters causing serious damage. The strike is extended, government schools being manned by non-striking teachers and some 300 volunteers (these were later given medals)…The CMTU called a one day general strike in support of teachers...The GWU condemned it…Teachers return to work…But were assigned to other schools to protect them from the wrath of the people (Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici. PM)”.
I can go on for ever...
Why is the GWU today so anxious to establish friendly relations with the other unions? For the very simple reason that, today, we have a Nationalist government and the GWU has lost all hope of ever defeating the government on its own. And as the saying goes, Quando non posson piu, ritornano al buon Gesu.
Giov. DeMartino
MOSTA