Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) secretary general GEJTU VELLA is adamant the union has an important role to play as a catalyst for change and in setting out the national agenda, as outlined by five policy documents published at last week’s UHM general conference. Here he speaks to David Lindsay about the union’s vision on matters such as social justice and economic progress, and insists issues of national importance cannot simply be left in the hands of political leaders

With Malta on the verge of a general election, the UHM, one of Malta’s leading trade unions, is pushing for its voice to be heard by political leaders as electoral promises begin to be formulated. And, if Malta is to make the most of globalisation and the European Union, union secretary general Gejtu Vella is adamant it is time for the country to take some bold decisions.

At the union’s 30th general conference last Wednesday, the UHM outlined its vision for the country by addressing issues and fostering a new way of doing things in Malta.

“We are about to enter a phase in which a general election is just around the corner, a phase in which we will have the main political parties making promises to the electorate,” he explained. “But rather than waiting to hear what these promises will be, we are working hard to see that what we deem necessary for the country to make economic progress and achieve effective social justice placed on the national agenda.

“Gone are the days of simply not agreeing with the way things are being done. Perhaps we still don’t agree, but we are proposing real alternatives on the way forward for the country, and we will continue to ensure that we become a national leading force for change on the Island.”

To this end, the UHM has published five policy documents drawn up by the likes of David Spiteri Gingell, John C. Grech and Lino Briguglio on issues including sustainability, social justice, social dialogue through the MCESD, cooperatives and Malta’s competitiveness post-EU membership.

The documents highlight the issues that the union will be raising with the parties and outline what the union is striving toward and what it is expecting from the political parties in their electoral pledges. The papers will also be presented during sessions organised for the constituted bodies and the political parties, which will not be invited to convey their messages, but rather to listen to what the experts and the union are proposing for the country. The union believes this will inspire a healthy debate, as it had done on previous occasions with its papers on EU membership and a social pact for Malta.

“The union will strive to ensure that workers feel safeguarded and motivated, which is our primary function. But we also have another function which is equally important and that is our inclusion in the decision-making process on a national level. If we are absent from the national level, we would be stating clearly that the powers that be decide on the issues of national importance, and that we will simply receive the residue of their decisions.

“This union is progressive and a catalyst of change so rather than receiving the short end of the stick, we are trying to propose the national agenda ourselves.”

Speaking of social pacts, at the top of the agenda are the union’s proposals for the reform of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), in which it makes an argument for rendering the council an effective forum where national issues are discussed.

“This country needs to take decisions at the right time,” Mr Vella stressed. “If we fail to do this, our economy will never dovetail into the larger EU economy that we are now part of, nor will it be able to compete in today’s globalised world.”

But as opposed to suggestions recently tabled by a rival union, the UHM firmly believes the government needs to be included.

“We do not see an MCESD without the government,” Mr Vella commented. “The government is one of the social partners and the presence and effectiveness of government representatives on the council is absolutely necessary. We can meet with the employer associations and the other constituted bodies without having a law, and we regularly do this to deal with specific issues.”

It is the issue of mutual trust as well as a respect for the confidentiality of discussions that is really plaguing the MCESD’s effectiveness.

“We perhaps need to build confidence between the government, trade unions and employers’ associations whereby we can discuss issues of national importance without one organisation or body taking sensitive issues to the media prior to the conclusion of discussions,” Mr Vella insisted.

“That is a crucial part of meaningful social dialogue. When one party in discussions pulls such a fast one on another, trust is lost and they become wary of putting their position forward, unless there is the confidence that the other side of the table will not violate that trust.

“The government itself is in a very good position because it has all the necessary information which at times neither the unions nor the employers have access to. If we build confidence among the social partners, such information could be tabled and we can, with due diligence and responsibility, take decisions not in the best interest of a particular sector, but rather in the interest of the whole country. When the whole country makes a leap forward, the effects will then trickle down to the whole population and all sectors.”

But at any rate Mr Vella firmly believes the MCESD is crucial to achieving a fully inclusive national decision-making process.

He added, “If, on the other hand, we feel we could do without the MCESD, we would revert to the old system where the government wakes up one day and announces it is going to implement this or that, whether you like it or not.”

In its policy documents, the union deals with the issue of the Maltese economy’s competitiveness post-EU membership. I ask whether ‘competitiveness’ has become something of a cliché, having been the buzzword of at least the last two years.

Competitiveness, Mr Vella argued, boils down to creating a well-oiled machine, which is highly adaptable and responsive to new developments.

“Competitiveness is certainly not a cliché, it is a reality,” he stresses. “If we work together on this island we could win any competition. That is because Malta is small and we have the ability as well as the agility to change paths.

“As a small country, we should be able to effect change swiftly and efficiently, especially when it is in the best interest of workers, pensioners and entrepreneurs.”

The union has also published a clear vision toward achieving social justice, and how trade unionism can play an effective role in the area. But, Mr Vella said social justice needs to be dispensed judiciously, effectively and should no longer support the system’s freeloaders.

“Social justice should not mean a cash handout for those who, for reasons best known to themselves, decide to take a free ride. The meaning of social justice is assistance, financially or otherwise, to those people or families who are really in dire need.

“In Malta we were led for a very long time to believe that the government gives us everything for free, but nothing is free and we pay heavily from our taxes. Everything comes at a price and what we need to instil in this society is the mentality that if there are people who need assistance, they will be helped.

“The government is elected for a definite period of time to manage our finances. But in managing our finances, we also need to ensure that we are receiving value for money.

“The time has come for a revision of what we are doing. Should we continue to give cash handouts to the long-term unemployed or should we instead try to have every person working? Should we continue to give assistance irrespective of whether beneficiaries are going to work or not? If an individual for some reason is not capable to work, that is one thing but it would be unacceptable if that person is simply having a free ride.

“The welfare system is very important, but we should all appreciate that it does not come for free and that we are paying for it. We should continue to pay for it, but we should also ensure that the benefits of system in place are going to the people in need.

“We have free education and free health care, but are we sure we are getting value for money? What we have are institutions such as the Office of the Auditor or the Broadcasting Authority which have today relaxed their muscle. We need to have them there safeguarding the general public and we need to have good pieces of legislation whereby those applying it will safeguard everyone’s interest.

“Have you ever heard of anyone going behind bars for embezzlement? Yet why is it that in the private sector you hear that someone has been forced out of his or her post for embezzlement or related activities, but you never hear the same of any politician or any politically-appointed chief executive officer or director. These are sensitive issues but they need to be addressed.”

The UHM’s policy documents also pay heed to cooperatives, which were placed high on the national agenda by the government in the early 1990s but which have now fallen by the wayside, while across Europe the issue has been gaining ground.

“I recall a time when this government in the early 1990s used to speak highly of cooperatives, but do you hear anyone in government speaking today about cooperatives?” Mr Vella questioned.

“I am very proud to say that we have helped the harbour pilots cooperative to establish itself. It has been successful and is now trying to invest so that there will be more efficiency at the ports.

“We need more ownership in the place of work in Malta, workers need to be empowered and given the ability to foster and create change. Globalisation is affecting, and will continue to affect, Malta whether we like it or not, so let’s make best use of it to our advantage.”

The issue of environmental sustainability is an area that stretches beyond employment issues, and affects the actual quality of the lives of workers, their families and indeed the entire population.

“Workers go to work, they have a family, but then they still need to have fresh air, good water and a sustainable environment,” Mr Vella observed.

“If these issues are not addressed, to what extent will future generations have clean air, water and environment?

“Perhaps we are too short-sighted and too eager to have our economy working. We could have new, high buildings all over the islands, but would we continue to attract the volumes of tourists we need to sustain our economy?

“These are the issues we need to discuss. They may be sensitive issues but from a worker’s point of view, we need to appreciate the pros and cons of each decision taken by the country. Such bread and butter decisions cannot be taken unilaterally by political leaders, we all need to have our say because all decisions taken, on whatever level, inevitably have an impact on us all.”