The UHM today filed a judicial protest, categorically denying what was reported in an article published by l-Orizzont today.

The UHM was referring to the article published in today’s Orizzont paper titled “Tal-UHM iridu ritratt tal-vot” stating that what was reported was false, malicious and damaging for the UHM and its members.

The GWU and the UHM are in the midst of an election to see who would represent the Malta Freeport Terminal workers.

The Union completely denied an allegation made in the article, that activists from the UHM in the Freeport were approaching workers and telling them that, should the UHM win the vote, they would require proof of their vote in order to receive help. The article claims that activists were telling the workers to take a photograph of their vote before submitting it.

“If they had any decency, the GWU and the Orizzont would publish the names of these activists, however this has not happened as it is not true”.

The article gives the impression that the GWU filed a report with the Registry of Trade Unions, when the article reads that GWU Secretary General Tony Zarb informed the Acting Director of Works Joe Camilleri.  “On his part (Joe Camilleri) not only understood the situation, however promised that the Commission who will take care of voting would not let this to occur,” the article read.

“UHM Secretary General Josef Vella himself communicated with Joe Camilleri and protested in the name of UHM as the Acting Director did not feel the need to take the UHM’s version before coming to conclusions. It is here that Tony Zarb and Orizzont are caught … as Joe Camilleri said that no report was made”.

“The GWU and Orizzont reported that – ‘this is an anti-democratic situation made by the UHM activists, who are not allowing workers from the Malta Freeport Terminals freely choose which union they want to represent them’. The fact is that it is the other way around and through its media, the GWU brings forth lies and tries to intimidate MFT workers” UHM said.

The UHM said that the GWU is trying to tarnish its reputation and categorically denied everything being insinuated by the article.

The Union asked that with immediate effect, the GWU accept, democratically and legally, the just process of elections and that it stops attempting to tarnish the UHM credibility through lies .

In the case of Orizzont, the UHM demands that it publish the content of this judicial protest giving it the same prominence in response to the article in question along with a categorical denial of what was reported against the UHM, prior to the election at the Freeport Terminals.