Once again, the General Workers’ Union is dancing to the Malta Labour Party’s tune. A dance that reminds me of the old wedding pact that by now should have ended, according to the union’s chiefs. Trying to impede a process by unleashing attacks towards the National Statistics Office is the latest example of the obstruction strategy.
It is a strategy that hinders economic growth and that goes against the workers’ interests. These are the same workers that give the GWU its strength. It is unethical and an act of negligence to attack an office just for the sake of pleasing a political party.
GWU general secretary Tony Zarb mentioned, on 7 February, that wherever the euro was introduced, there was an increase in the cost of living. He did not mention that the economic growth last year in the countries that use the euro reached its highest annual rate in six years. Eurostat now estimates GDP expanded by 2.7 per cent, nearly double the 1.4 per cent seen in 2005.
He never mentioned that in a report made by Jean-Claude Trichet, European Central Bank President, it is stated that the introduction of the euro has boosted employment. Trichet told the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, “With the euro, we have created 11.73 million jobs, during this period of eight years. Before the euro, in the euro area, in the same period of eight years, we created 2.65 million jobs.”
The eurozone, which nowadays is made up of 13 countries, makes it comparable with major world economies such as the United States and Japan. Having a single currency and an economic and monetary union strengthens the European Union’s role in international fora and organisations like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The euro’s strength is being recognised and given its due importance as an international investment and reserve currency. The euro has already become a major currency in which to borrow money: issues of international securities denominated in euro now rival dollar issues. A single currency makes the European Union a strong partner to trade with and facilitates access to a genuine single market for foreign companies, which will benefit from lower costs of doing business in Europe.
Although the eurozone may be affected by developments that occur in global economy, this only affects domestic prices minimally since most of the products are produced or manufactured within the European Union.
The euro obstruction campaign is not the only example of GWU copying the MLP. Another example is taking the defence of those who break the rules. A few days ago, GWU defended workers who were caught sleeping while supposedly on duty. The act of defending these people and the protest in favour of these workers is an act of injustice towards all the other honest workers.
It is unprofessional to protect people that may hinder the jobs of other people due to negligence and misbehaviour.
The GWU must use a professional approach and condemn certain acts, not defend them. It is unjust with the other members in the same union who carry out their duties in a diligent manner. To compete and attract foreign investment, we must build a professional working force. The GWU may give a huge contribution in this but it must act professionally itself first.
To maintain and improve our positive economic growth, we need to forget petty politics and act in the national interest. Taking the sides of political parties and defending undisciplined workers is not the right approach to convince foreign investors that we offer good value and a professional workforce for their investment.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP
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www.davidcasa.eu