I was pleased to note that MUT president John Bencini has reacted to my comments about the shameful “collaboration” between the unions tac-cekcik and the privileged one (TMID, 9 May).

I was also pleased to learn that Mr Bencini did stand out and was counted when the whole island was experiencing a modern reign of terror under a dictatorial oppressive socialist regime between 1971 and 1987. My greatest pleasure however comes from the fact that it was Mr Bencini himself who publicly admitted that the GWU was not on the MUT’s side when the regime tried, and succeeded, to force teachers into a humiliating and unconditional surrender.

But what Mr Bencini wrote is only half the truth. The whole truth is that not only was the GWU not on our side, but it was completely on the side of the tyrant. The GWU did everything in its power to ridicule the teachers and their union and to incite the public against the teachers who were “abandoning” the children. Mr Bencini says that he is still expecting an apology from the GWU. Are you serious or are you trying to bring in some humour?

Of course I strongly object to any “support” coming from the GWU. Mr Bencini knows as much as I do, or more than I do, that as long as there is a Nationalist government the GWU will support wholeheartedly any union that decides to make a claim. But the GWU does not support these unions because it has the interest of workers at heart, but because the GWU will do everything in its power to embarrass and possibly topple the government. Once there is a Labour government the GWU will go into hibernation as it always did in the past.

I ask Mr Bencini: do you sincerely believe that the GWU will support you if there is a Labour government? A short yes or no. And if there is a Labour government, will you use the same language and the same tactics you are using now? Will you give an ultimatum to a socialist minister?

In fact those who see you on TV may get the impression that you are trying to bully the minister. Mr Bencini assured us that when the teachers were locked out, together with his fellow council members, he fought back. And yet you’ll have to agree with me that we were humiliated by the regime and no one raised a finger to defend our rights except the Nationalist Party which gave us back our rights as soon as it was returned to power in 1987. When we were still licking our wounds and waiting for the regime to transfer us and accept us back in class, and while angry parents were near the schools to welcome us, the regime and its union were celebrating our humiliation.

Mr Bencini told us that he will not comment on Labour’s past. Why? Are you afraid you’ll hurt the feelings of some new friends? Of course the MUT is a union and not a political party, so why sit at table with a union which is part and parcel of a political party? I have just read in another section of the press that you were interviewed on Super One. And you singled out the privileged union to show your appreciation for its support. It is this attitude that is bringing the MUT into disrepute and not my genuine comments.

The pity is that several young teachers have no idea what we had to face between 1971 and 1987. Very often we limit ourselves to the strike, the lock out, transfers, attack on headquarters, manhandling of our leaders... But that is only a small part of the story. In fact it was 16 interminable years of hell not only for teachers, but for all other workers: doctors, architects, bank employees, Marsa garage employees, fitters afloat, divers.....What did the GWU do on that occasion?

Knowing the track record of the GWU when workers’ rights are concerned, the free trade unions should have nothing, absolutely nothing to do with a union which is an integral part of a political party.

Giov DeMartino

Mosta.