The current reform within the Confederation of Maltese Trade Unions is expected to create a better organisation, and the union will then be in a better position to attract more trade unions to form part of this umbrella organisation, new CMTU president William Portelli told The Malta Independent.

The majority of trade unions in Malta are already members of the CMTU, with the exception of the General Workers’ Union and the unions and associations which form part of the Forum.

If all trade unions in Malta had to join the CMTU, then Malta would be one step closer towards establishing the much-needed Trade Union Council. Once this is achieved, reaching agreement and a compromise on a social pact for Malta would also be possible.

Talks on a social pact failed in 2004 because the trade unions disagreed on the contents of this tri-partite social pact between unions, employers and the government.

In an interview with The Malta Independent, Mr Portelli said the Forum, comprising of eight unions and organisations, and the GWU, had been contacted and urged to join the confederation.

While the Forum said it would seriously consider joining the CMTU, after having seen the new format of the organisation, the GWU said it will meet the CMTU to discuss this issue in due course. For Mr Portelli, however, this is already one step forward and he hoped that this would actually take place.

In the interview, Mr Portelli spoke about changes which he hopes to see in the CMTU: seeing trade unions working closer together in the best of interests of workers and of the country.

He also mentioned the idea of allowing the media to follow discussions at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development and the need for change at the MCESD to help it become a more effective organisation.