I agree wholeheartedly with the points you raised in your leader “Workers’ duties” (TMID, 2 May), in which you highlighted the fact that unions should not only seek to obtain better working conditions for their members, but also to instill in them a sense of dedication and commitment in their work.

I work in a private company and I also have a past in the public service. So I can speak about both. What I can say is that in both the public and private service, there are workers who give their utmost, often going beyond what they should do, while others simply twiddle their thumbs and wait until the clock strikes 5pm.

These “lazy” workers are then the one who create the more problems for their management, speaking about rights and conditions, and ignoring their responsibilities and duties. They are the ones who go on long coffee breaks, arrive late and leave early, and then they expect to be given promotions and wage increases.

This is what unions should look into as well when they are negotiating collective agreements – the amount of time that is lost by these workers. No wonder productivity levels are reduced.

I do hope that the unions realise that the workers they represent should give their 100 per cent, every single day. But I do wonder when this will ever happen.

F. Vella

Mellieha