The current impasse between the General Workers Union and the Malta Dockers Union over union recognition at Malta Freeport goes beyond a normal spat regarding representation.

Its roots go back a few years when the port workers shifted allegiance, moving away from the GWU, which had represented them for years, to join the newly-formed MDU. Judging from the way the GWU has behaved in recent days and the declarations made by its top officials, it could safely be said that the GWU wants to take its revenge.

It is probably not a coincidence that the matter erupted in the days when George Abela was appointed as Malta’s eighth President of the Republic. Dr Abela, a lawyer by profession, was legal council to the GWU for many years before he resigned after disagreeing with the way the union handled the court case filed by the government against the GWU on the August 1999 strikes at the airport.

The dispute between Dr Abela and the union grew over the years and reached a climax two years ago when port workers, then still GWU members, appointed Dr Abela as their legal representative in discussions with the government over the reform at the ports. Later, the majority of the port workers abandoned the GWU to form the MDU.

What GWU secretary-general Tony Zarb told a Sunday newspaper confirms that the union has not forgotten, much less forgiven, Dr Abela for the role he played in the breakaway of what had previously been one of the strongest sectors of the GWU – the port workers.

At a time when Malta celebrated the historic decision of appointing a President coming from the political side of the party in opposition, the GWU’s action at the Freeport could be interpreted as its own way of expressing its reservations, to put it mildly, about his appointment.

Naturally, Dr Abela, in his new role, cannot express himself on the matter any longer, not even to reply to the “dirty linen” comments that were made by Mr Zarb last Sunday. If they cannot forget the past, the GWU stands out as being one of the few entities, if not the only one, not to have (fully) endorsed the new President.

There are other matters that deserve consideration, the most important of which is the threat to blockade Maltese ports, made by a foreign trade union supporting the GWU. How can a Maltese union, in this case the GWU, be seen on the same side as an organisation that wants to cause so much hardship and chaos to Malta? Has the GWU not realised what negative effect this could have on Malta and the Maltese workers it professes to protect? Has it not understood the implications of such a threat? Does it not understand that so many jobs are at stake?

The GWU should act in a more responsible manner. The matter has already escalated enough, and God forbid that the dispute should be allowed to grow even further. Considering the current difficulties Malta has to overcome at a time of international financial and economic crisis, the last thing we need is to have our ports blocked.

After all, the dispute is with the MDU – and neither the Freeport, nor Malta in general, should suffer the consequences of any action that is taken.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Sunday said that the Freeport management is ready to negotiate and find lasting solutions in the national interest if the GWU withdraws its directives, with the GWU replying it was willing to discuss if the Freeport withdrew its e1 million garnishee order.

It is hoped that a solution is found as quickly as possible.