I was literally stunned reading Gejtu Vella UHM General Secretary’s comments in Stephen Calleja’s article entitled “ MCESD expansion – Government proposals ‘short-circuit’ complex balance – UHM’ (TMIS, 15 August).

Mr Vella, while vehemently criticising the government’s commitment to include Forum Unions Maltin (FOR.U.M) and the Gozo Chamber of Commerce within the fold of the MCESD, chose to accuse me of “creating further division rather than unity, among the unions”.

I cannot understand how an experienced trade unionist entrusted with the leadership of a major trade union can take such a direct stand against the principles of social dialogue and representation. The mind is baffled all the more when one considers that UHM together with other trade unions – including the Malta Union of Teachers – openly championed Malta’s accession to the European Union precisely because of these basic principles.

FOR.U.M demands representation on MCESD as a matter of right. A confederation of 11 unions totalling 12,000 workers representing nurses and midwives, teaching grades, university academics, airline engineers, airline pilots, cabin crew employees, bank employees, architects, engineers, professional staff at the Planning Authority and other professional, technical and clerical workers and officers cannot be left unrepresented on such an important structure, unless, of course, for Gejtu Vella these people have no importance at all and are completely irrelevant. The government has finally taken an inclusive position, ultimately standing true to its avowed commitment towards democracy and social dialogue. FOR.U.M now looks forward to the implementation of this position and will certainly not stand in the way of other entities that might also have justifiable claims for representation. This is entirely consonant with FOR.U.M’s firm belief in social dialogue and representation as opposed to exclusion and exclusivity.

Truly, Mr Vella, UHM boss, did acknowledge that “John Bencini was the man who tried to form a Trades Union Council a couple of years ago”. For the record, I must add that Mr Gejtu Vella was the first trade unionist on the island to turn down the proposal, publicly stating that TUC was neither on his union’s agenda nor a priority at the time. The CMTU followed in tow. In a similar fashion, Mr. Vella is now on the frontline against the government’s proposal.

I thus leave it entirely to your readers’ judgement to discern who truly believes in social dialogue and representation and who, on the contrary, “ is creating further division rather than unity, among the unions”.

John Bencini

President

Forum Unions Maltin