I write in response to an article entitled “GWU, Forum acting as political parties, not trade unions − CMTU president” (TMIS, 27 March) as reported by Stephen Calleja. In fact, your journalist quoted parts of an interview with William Portelli, CMTU president.

I write in response to an article entitled “GWU, Forum acting as political parties, not trade unions − CMTU president” (TMIS, 27 March) as reported by Stephen Calleja. In fact, your journalist quoted parts of an interview with William Portelli, CMTU president.

During this interview Mr Portelli was quoted inter alia as stating: “It is unfortunate that on this issue (he was referring here to Forum’s application to the ETUC), both the GWU and FOR.U.M are not really acting as trade unions but more like partisan political parties.” Honestly, I find it very hard to understand what Mr Portelli has in mind. It would be appreciated if Mr Portelli were a little bit more explicit for all of us at FOR.U.M to understand the reasoning behind Mr Portelli’s logic and how he has come to such conclusions!

Mr Portelli has also been quoted saying that, “we (CMTU) are not yet convinced that they (presumably referring to my confederation of 11 unions) have a trade unionism agenda but we (CMTU) seriously suspect that political motivation is the ultimate driving force behind the attacks and that this obviously goes against the interest of the workers who we all represent”. This is indeed an extremely serious accusation as Mr Portelli is now accusing 11 unions that they all have a political agenda. FOR.U.M expect Mr Portelli to immediately withdraw this statement, as this is a formal charge brought against all FOR.U.M affiliates. Mr Portelli’s statements are defamatory intended only to bring the 11 unions affiliated to FOR.U.M into disrepute. FOR.U.M will be consulting its lawyers on the matter.

Mr Portelli’s interview with your newspaper contained other unfounded allegations but I will not comment on these insinuations and accusations as expressed by the president of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions. This will only serve to foster further division, rifts and reciprocal sniping. I personally believe it is about time we all concentrate on our work and desist from continuing with these baseless and unfounded manoeuvres.

John Bencini

President

FOR.U.M