During the past days two major unions have commemorated their birthday, albeit in different style. These were celebrated in a period when various unions and confederations made statements and strong allegations against each other. Some even went further and challenged government with a stern accusations of discrimination. This is not new to the industrial relations field. Most unions initiate the process to address their grievances by issuing strongly worded press statements. This would be the first signal that a union will soon go on the warpath while alerting its troops. In conducting healthy industrial relations sudden sharp turns are not recommended. Alternatively meaningful social dialogue should remain the cornerstone to address differences which arise from time to time between unions, employers and government.
The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, an important consultative vehicle, should and must continue to serve as a useful effective council wherein employers and unions make recommendations to government and vice-versa thus avoiding sudden shocks.
The MCESD should not be used as an extended arm of government, or worse still as a rubber stamp. While the credentials of most of the representatives sitting on the Council are respectable and upright many have serious doubts about others, including the headship of the council who was politically appointed against the publicly expressed will of most members on the same council.
Unfortunately what is new is the fact that some unions must have been led to believe that a change in government will lead to an open door policy in which unions can ensure that their wide range of claims can be entertained. Unions failed to acknowledge that their members were receiving improved pay packets and better conditions of work through collective bargaining against a backdrop of drastic austerity measures in other EU countries.
This huge achievement was downplayed, mostly by those who eyed a political appointment or a financially rewarding position. Perhaps today, unions would do well to prepare to sound the alarming bells, as in the first six months of this legislature we have witnessed a substantial number of political appointments and politically motivated transfers which are becoming more ostensible while unemployment has started to creep up. The recent super high-jump promotions within the Armed Forces and the long list of political appointments are opening the way wide open for more political appointments in addition to those awarded earlier within the civil service. This is a cause for concern and should be addressed without further delay.
The recent announcement by the Prime Minister which reversed the unexpected decision to stop the yearly EU funding to employers and unions is the correct one. There must have been others complaining about the suspension of such funds, who perhaps whispered a word or two in the PM’s ear before the realisation hit that he was actually shooting himself in the foot.
When addressing the Congress of the GWU, the Prime Minister’s statement that he dreams of the day when the trade unions set up what is known as the trade union council, a body encompassing all trade unions, seriously jarred. One wonders what the Prime Minister’s keen interest is in trade unions forming such a body. The attempt by the late PM Dom Mintoff to usurp trade unions of their rights by clipping their wings and keeping them under his watch failed. Keeping our fingers crossed, we should not witness another attempt on the trade union movement, avoiding the same mistakes that emanated from a marriage of convenience. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
On the other hand, when addressing delegates at the same event Simon Busuttil, Opposition Leader extended an invitation to the GWU to work closer to the PN, notwithstanding its close ties with the PL. He also emphasised the need to foster constructive better social dialogue and a national plan for employment with better conditions of work and higher salaries.
These domestic issues were overshadowed by the human tragedy that hit not far off our shores. The harrowing accounts of rescuers while attempting to pull out exhausted migrants from the sea were chilling. “They were all covered in petrol. They slipped through our hands. I grabbed a woman but I couldn’t hold onto her. She fell in the water and I kept telling her ‘hold on, hold on’”. These are few of the accounts reported by news agencies covering the shocking news that many, mostly from Eritrea, Ghana and Somalia, were floating lifeless in the Mediterranean close to Lampedusa. This was distressing and devastating to witness.
The body bags of the drowned African migrants lying in a hangar at Lampedusa airport in which scores of unidentified bodies were lined up in a makeshift morgue brought a moment of silence and reflection to most. The regular updates, together with footage and pictures, continued to give us detailed information of what must have happened on the small boat carrying more than 300 migrants. In desperation many flee from their countries in search of a better future in Europe. This time it was not to be as many met their early unexpected death. This loss of life continues to add to the many others who also did not manage to reach the promised shores.
Unfortunately, notwithstanding such human tragedies, some still express prejudice against coloured people for whatever reason. This is shameful.
In the wake of this tragedy the Italian government has declared a day of national mourning on Friday while insisting that a solution should be sought with the assistance and efforts of all European Union members. The Italian government asked the European Union to help stem the influx of migrants, as the country mourned the dead. The islanders of the tiny fishing community held a mass and a silent torch-lit procession, as flags across Italy flew at half-mast and schools marked a minute of silence. This may be a small token of solidarity, but a meaningful one at that. Push backs were not mentioned, hopefully with the realisation that such action is not the appropriate solution.
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