I cannot understand why John Bencini, MUT president and now also leader of the Ghaqda Unions Maltin is becoming so hysterical, irresponsible and intolerant, apart from being also very provocative. In trying to imitate his newly found ‘colleagues’ (he must have forgotten how the GWU aided the Labour government against the MUT in former years), he is steadily losing the respected credentials he has had in trade unionism for many years.
Nowadays, Mr Bencini cannot understand that, as much as he has a right to an opinion and a sense of criticism, others have the same rights and can disagree freely. Gone are the days when, under a Labour government, any demonstration was met with violence. Everyone is at liberty to talk against anything under the sun without being intimidated! I hope that he is not one who advocates censorship, but the way he is acting makes one think that either you say it or do it his way, or else he considers you his enemy.
During his hysterical speech at last Sunday’s demonstration, Mr Bencini vented his Poland’s Jaruselski totalitarian style by naming respected trade unionists and journalists, to the great booing of the crowd. He did not stop at giving the reasons for the protest, but attacked mercilessly all those who were against the timing of the gathering – starting with all the leaders of trade unions who opposed the idea and then also turning on the media – as if he has the divine authority to gather people to protest and others are not expected to refuse.
All the unions who decided to continue with their dialogue at the MCESD came in for a barrage of insults and criticism because they did not want to have anything to do with the Labour-orchestrated protest. In the same way that he, as MUT President and FOR.UM leader, can call a protest, all the other unions also have the right to object to this ‘political’ strategy! That’s democracy, Mr Bencini!
Neither did Mr Bencini spare criticism of your journalist in his speech, twice referring to him by name. All this because Stephen Calleja reported in an article (TMIS, 28 February) the fact that the UHM was opening its doors to accept teachers who have the right to object to the “politically charged” MUT and its president. As if one is not allowed to join the union of one’s choice! Why did Mr Bencini shout his head off, exposing a journalist for simply doing his duty towards his readers? Has he now also vested in him the title of supreme editor of the newspaper? Mr Bencini was so frustrated that he did not accept a factual story which was collaborated later by UHM secretary Gejtu Vella, who even added that an MUT council member had expressed his reservations about the fact that the teachers’ union had turned into a “politically charged” trade union!
Why has Mr Bencini interpreted this article as a personal attack against the MUT? By the same reasoning, Mr Bencini is attacking rival unions and Mr Calleja personally too. The MUT president should be the last person to be offended, as he has been doing the same thing against the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education and all those who do not agree with him! He should have grown up enough by now!
In his hysterics, Mr Bencini called on the Institute of Journalists to take steps against Mr Calleja. What cheek! I presume he is thinking that we have become a communist state. I think that the Institute of Journalists should show support for Mr Calleja and rebuke Mr Bencini for infringing the rights of journalists to report factual stories without fear or favour. Or are we living in Russia?
George Gatt
SLIEMA