An irresponsible GWU

The industrial action ordered by the General Workers' Union against the government in protest against last November's budget is irresponsible and completely out of proportion. While the union, and anybody else, has the right, and the duty, to criticise government policy and the measures introduced in last year's budget, ordering strike action over a difference of policy is simply wrong and will only harm the country's interests.

No industrial dispute exists between the GWU and the government, so why have employees in six government companies been ordered not to provide services to the government? Why have employees in Enemalta, Maltacom, Water Services Corporation, Malta Drydocks, Malta Shipbuilding and Maltapost been given instructions by the GWU not to cooperate with the government? Does the GWU understand the implications of its latest strike action? Is the GWU aware, for example, of the danger of fuel not being supplied to the police force? Does the GWU want to be responsible for a surge in crime and a breakdown of law and order? Can any sane person really imagine similar strike action taking place in any other industrial democracy?

It is clear that this dispute has nothing to do with industrial relations and is politically motivated. The GWU, has, unfortunately, adopted a reckless attitude ever since it paralysed the country's airport last August over a question of union recognition. Again, there was no industrial dispute involved and the whole episode could have been avoided if proper negotiations were held between the GWU and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin over a joint negotiating position, which has now been agreed upon. In this current dispute, the GWU has made it clear that it is not prepared to wait long for the government to revise its budget measures and that more directives would be issued.

The union's secretary general, Tony Zarb, has threatened to issue directives at the airport and the ports. In a nutshell, the GWU is prepared to paralyse the country if the government does not make major concessions over its budget measures. It is using its dominant position in the trade union movement to try and force the government to make a U-turn in a dispute which has nothing to do with industrial relations. There is also a case of double standards; the GWU did not protest half as loudly when the former Labour government introduced some extremely steep price hikes in water and electricity bills.

What this dispute boils down to now is who governs Malta - the government or the General Workers' Union? So far the government has been weak when confronting the GWU. The decision to grant a presidential pardon to the GWU in connection with the August 1999 incidents at Malta International Airport was the first sign of weakness. If the government felt uncomfortable with the court proceedings there should never have been any charges in the first place.

The second U-turn committed was the decision not to go ahead with the planned increases in utility rates this year. If such U-turns at least brought about some sort of agreement or a commitment from the GWU not to repeat last August's incidents, then perhaps such a compromise would have been in the country's interest, but the opposite has happened: The GWU has stepped up its strike action and has threatened to issue further directives. Furthermore the GWU secretary general has said that the government had capitulated by recommending a presidential pardon and would now have to give in again following the latest directives.

It is clear that the government's capitulation on these two points has been interpreted by the GWU as a sign of weakness and this is precisely why its has stepped up its campaign against the government. However, now is the time for the government to put its foot down and show that it is in charge. It is high time that strikes not related to industrial disputes are outlawed.

Two years ago the court ruled that the UHM's actions at the Freeport were not legal because there existed no industrial dispute between the contending parties. Surely we are in a similar situation today? The government must not capitulate this time. It must take on the union, head-on. There is no other way and time is running out: the next general election is due in less than three years time.