This is more than a question of charity beginning at home.

Opposition leader Alfred Sant, in the final lap of the race for the GWU administration posts’ election, bragged that the GWU would be given special treatment once a Labour government is back in power.

When this declaration was questioned, not only by the Nationalist Party but also by other unions, instead of back-tracking, Dr Sant increased the dose.

This is nothing other than the “writing on the wall”. We are being told that if and when the MLP is re-elected to power, the corridors of power will include the GWU administration. Other unions have been given notice that unless they declare themselves to be supporting leftist idealists – then they are in for shock treatment.

Logically it follows that there will effectively be two classes of unions. Those who support the Labour Party’s ideals and agree to sing their Socialist call will be given preferential treatment. Of course, this will also mean that the GWU, for its part, will be more involved in obeying orders from the top than looking out for the interests of those in the

bottom ranks, should these be trodden on.

Experience in this regime for the GWU is more than abundant,as quite a number of those re-elected during the past week know the ropes. They have already sung this tune back in the Labour days.

Labour must be looking back at the newly declared GWU/MLP loving relationship as reminiscent of the good old times. They are looking back with nostalgia at the good old days when the MLP was in government – at the same good old days when being in government meant a four-day working week and one-week employment contracts for our workers.

Does Dr Sant wish a return to those days when former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici declared that his ambition was to have everyone employed on the minimum wage? If this is Labour’s ideal situation, then we are all in for a pitiful time.

Does this declaration by Dr Alfred Sant mean a return to the “good” old days and ways, when the only breath of fresh air was the meetings we were called upon to attend practically every Sunday by the Nationalist Party? If this is the main theme of a new Labour government, and their agenda for the next electoral manifesto, then all those faithful who were hearing out Dr Sant last Sunday are in for a nasty

surprise.

Unfortunately, the GWU itself seems happy with this situation. If such an eventuality came to be, then the GWU would become the regulator, administrator and fighter for workers’ rights. Such a situation would definitely mean a massive conflict of interest and one would have to examine whether the said union would have totally changed its mission statement and as such no longer need to be in existence as it would just be following its leader – the would-be Labour Prime Minister.

Is this what Malta wants to opt for? Is this the way to treat the workers in the various places of work? Where and to whom would the worker turn when difficult times loom in front of him, threatening his tenure of office/employment? Will we have a repeat of the 1981-1987 situation, when employment meant joining a semi-military body where the right to strike and take industrial action could not even be found in the job’s terms of reference.

For those who think that Labour has changed, Dr Sant is giving just the opposite vibes. Perhaps the outward colour and appearance have a fresher look, but deep inside, the sour attitude vis-à-vis all those who do not agree with the party is still on the books.

But then, history does tend to repeat itself.

Forty-seven years ago, a Labour government gave up its administration on losing the integration vote. Eight years ago, another Labour government gave up its administration after it proved itself unable to run the country. At the time, the country was being inadequately run by he who claimed to have all the solutions. Are we in for a re-run of this scenario, should the Socialists be re-elected to government? I very much tend to think so.

What is a union?

In my dictionary, a union is defined as that independent united force of people who organise themselves in representation of workers’ interests, in order to keep a vigilant eye on workers’ rights and defend them, and who strive to achieve the best conditions of employment etc.

There is no mention that such a force should in any way be associated with a political party. In fact such an association goes totally against the grain.

Where does the GWU stand?

Tony Abela is Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the

Prime Minister