Government not 'convinced' police should join trade union - Labour

Labour spokesman for justice Michael Falzon said the Labour Party has been insisting for long that workers in the Disciplinary Forces should have the right to join a trade union without the ability to go on strike.

“Despite what was reported, Lawrence Gonzi’s government still has not done anything to secure the right of association with trade unions to members of the Police Corps,” Falzon said.

Falzon said that the impression being given is very different to the truth and believes that the government “is still not convinced on this issue”.

A note had been presented by the minister concerned earlier this week to the clerk of the House of Representatives to have the first reading of the bill in parliament and give notice to the House that a discussion may take place on the issue.

“Even though this issue has been dragged on for years, there still has not been anything concrete done. Nobody knows what is going to be proposed,” Falzon said.

According to Falzon, nothing has been published on the matter and there has been no indication of any consultations with the Police Association to discuss the matter.

“It seems like the government was reacting chaotically in response to pressure from the Police Association regarding this right to be given to the police force,” Falzon said.

A meeting was scheduled to be held between the PL and Police Association to discuss this matter at the same time as the presentation of the notice was made to Parliament.

The meeting held with Falzon had to be cancelled because police authorities objected and refused permission for the meeting be held. Because permission was not given, Falzon questioned the government’s “genuine desire to grant this right” to the police force workers.

In light of all this, Falzon is requesting assurance from the Minister concerned that his and other PL speakers’ “telephone calls and emails are not being tapped into”.