From Mr Joseph Muscat

On Friday morning, I read the news that some unions had agreed to call, not their members but the people, not to pay their water and electricity bills to Enemalta within the 45 days as provided by Enemalta itself. This directive could endanger the supply of energy, if Enemalta will need the money to provide this service.

So what was the reason behind this directive to the people, and who are these unions that believe they have the right to direct what people should or should not do. Mentioning the two main ones, the General Workers’ Union (GWU) and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) led the others for a photograph on the steps of Castile. A photo of Tony Zarb standing in that particular place has been common since 1987; in fact I have a collection, but as for Mr Bencini I think he is trying to reach that number. The teachers led by these gentlemen today perhaps say how unlucky they were in those pre-1987 days, when they used to be transferred, some of them once a week, their union vanished, only kept on the books because even their headquarters was closed, broken into, smashed and if I remember correctly even gutted by fire. Where were Mr Bencini and the other gentlemen? He would have been a knight in shining armour fighting perhaps even against Mr Zarb, who perhaps was only a foot soldier; the GWU was a companion in Cabinet, in those days.

In my opinion, this directive of the unions, since it is not directed to its members, and has got nothing to do with industrial relations, is not only irresponsible directive it is worse. I am not a lawyer, and I know nothing about laws, but I think that it is illegal for me or for another citizen to preach and urge other people not to pay for services consumed that were rendered by the State, that by that action I endanger the continuity of the same services to other citizens. If I do that, I will be fomenting civil unrest, and that is illegal.

And what are these unions asking for? They want to meet the Prime Minister to discuss a study by an able economist Prof. E. Scicluna, now also a politician. What is sure is the Prime Minister had met these unions and others many times in November 2008. He even met this economist over this study, but I think there was some disagreement. Prof. Scicluna is an able economist, but there are others who are just as able, and the Prime Minister has got other economists he can consult. I am sure that he listened to the professor as he had listened to others but only he has to take the decision because the responsibility is his and his alone. He has told the unions that what is left is a technical matter, go and talk to the regulator. I do not believe in regulators or hiding agencies of which we unfortunately have hundreds, but in this case I think that Dr Gonzi had not tried to hide anywhere, but tried to be more generous with everybody. The union’s action is not only irresponsible, to me it is also criminal.

Joseph Muscat

MOSTA