UHM boss stoking the fires on MCESD admission, say Forum unions

The 11-union federation Forum has been campaigning to be admitted into the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, which groups employers and employees’ representatives on a consultative body.

“Gejtu Vella has been attacking his trade union colleagues for years, when he doesn’t agree with them, and that’s what he did before the biggest ever protests held on the exeggerated energy tariffs...  none of his predecessors has ever gone doen to this level,” Forum secretary-general Paul Pace said.

Pace claimed Vella had hit out at a solution government was looking into to admit the Forum Unions Malta and the Gozo Business Chamber to the MCESD, accusing it of showing “preference” for other associations.

“Forum represents 12,000 workers in education, health, environment protection, tourism and banking... Vella’s hostility damages government’s position, since it’s only the Opposition which has presented a private member’s bill to force changes in the law establishing the MCESD.

“What is ironic is Vella’s accusation that Forum’s president is fomenting division amongst the unions. As president of the teachers’ union, John Bencini was fundamental in uniting unions into a trade union council and it was Vella who resisted this option – even claiming that competition amongst unions was good for workers,” Pace said.