It did so a week before demonstrations and activities will be held by the European Transport Federation and the International Transport Workers Federation in Brussels, in which the union will be taking part as well.

The strike was however called last Wednesday so as not to disrupt activities related to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the union said when it announced its directives.

Many took this to mean a sign of responsible behaviour on the part of the union. It wanted to express its concern over the Port Services Directive – as it has every right to do – and did so a week before other activities that will be held in Brussels just because it did not want to add more pressure during an important time for Malta.

One may agree or disagree with the union’s stand on the matter, but the union must be applauded for taking CHOGM into consideration when ordering the strike at the ports.

But then, one day later, on Thursday, the union decided to hold a national protest in Valletta on the eve of the start of the CHOGM, and during a State visit by Queen Elizabeth II.

It said it would hold the protest – in solidarity with workers over the increase in the surcharge of water and electricity bills and with those workers whose job is threatened or, worse, already know they will be losing their job – during CHOGM week so that the foreign dignitaries will get to know more about the plight of Maltese workers.

What happened between Wednesday and Thursday? Why did the union say it did not want to disrupt activities related with the CHOGM on Wednesday, and, a day later, come up with the idea of a national protest to take place on the eve of the CHOGM opening ceremony?

A strike in the port during CHOGM would have had a minimal effect when compared to the national protest that will be held on Thursday.

Let us not forget that, on the day of the GWU national protest, the Commonwealth Business Forum and the Commonwealth People’s Forum will still be taking place and, added to this, Queen Elizabeth would have started her four-day State visit.

Thursday is also the day when many of the heads of state who will be attending the CHOGM will be flying to Malta.

The union has every right to protest about the current situation in Malta, but it should not have chosen such a date for its manifestation. It should have kept to the stand taken on the port strike and not opt to hold activities during CHOGM week.

For one thing, it is known that the police and the Armed Forces of Malta will be stretched to the limit all through next week and should have been spared an extra activity like the one being prepared by the union. Policemen and soldiers are workers too, and the union should not have added this extra pressure on them.

Secondly, what does the union plan to achieve by holding its protest march during CHOGM week? The manifestation, great as it may be, will in all probability be “lost” amid the CHOGM-related activities and will not get the local coverage it would have had if it had been held on any other day.

The foreign media is not likely to give it too much attention either.

Thirdly, it has been said all along that the CHOGM week is a chance for Malta to attract more investment from countries who will be represented. This business investment is needed by the country and is strongly advocated by the GWU itself at a time of economic difficulty.

It is believed that the GWU’s manifestation will not help in this regard.