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When dialogue doesn’t work

The extent to which the government takes on board the General Workers’ Union’s amendments to the proposed new labour laws could determine whether we have a long, hot summer, Tony Zarb tells MIRIAM DUNN

The General Workers Union will be awaiting the first reading of the new labour laws which is due to take place in about five month’s time with interest.

It will be then that the union will be able to see if the government takes on board its proposed amendments to the new legislation, which has been 10 years in the offing.

I ask GWU secretary general whether he is optimistic that this will happen, or whether Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s comments that this year marks a time for bold decisions has ominous undertones.

"Certainly we believe it will be a make or break year," he answers. "Once the government receives the proposals from all the social partners, it will be faced with a choice of dialogue or bulldozing its way forward."

Mr Zarb voices his hope that dialogue and agreement will win the day.

"We wouldn’t want to witness something like a revival of Thatcherism in Malta this year," he says.

Would he draw any parallels with the unrest Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair has with the unions at present? I point out that some sections of the British media are labelling this cold season the new winter of discontent.

"Well, we could be in for another long hot summer if the government shows that it hasn’t listened to us when it gives the first reading of the new laws in June," he replies.

The GWU has not divulged details of its proposed 61 amendments to the legislation. But it is clear that there are certain areas in which the union does not feel that its first priority - safeguarding the rights of the workers – is being met.

"For example, the new ERA proposes the basic conditions of the workers and if you see our collective agreements, they are well above this," Mr Zarb explains. "However, we are very happy that the new laws are taking on board some of the issues which were discussed at GWU conferences. These will now be covered at legislative level and that is very positive."

The union had expressed particular concern about one issue mentioned in the white paper - a clause that appeared to put at risk a union’s right to call a sympathy strike – but which the government has since backed down on.

Is Mr Zarb now satisfied with the government’s assurance that sympathy strikes will not be made illegal?

"If the government keeps its promise that sympathy strikes will remain an option for us, we will be happy," he answers.

I ask him why this form of action is so important to the GWU.

"Having the right to call a sympathy strike is the basis of what the GWU stands for," is his reply. "You have to maintain solidarity among the workers and this is one way of doing so."

And how does he react to the argument that an innocent employer can suffer when caught up in the middle of a sympathy strike?

"Granted, this can happen," he replies. "But on the other hand you have the workers who can suffer as well and our ultimate interest is to safeguard our members."

The GWU has also expressed concern at the government’s apparent intention to widen the belt of services deemed essential, which prevents them from being able to go out on full strike.

"We are very worried about this, since the white paper plans to extend the essential services to include a number of places where we are very strong, such as the ports, Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation, so we will be looking to discuss this point," the secretary general says.

The white paper is now set to be discussed at a one-day meeting at the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development, once all the social partners have put forward their proposals.

In the past, the GWU had criticised the MCSED for being a rubber stamp for the government’s plans, rather than a forum for dialogue.

Does Mr Zarb still hold this view?

"Certainly I am still sceptical," he replies. "The set-up at the MCSED is good, but we still feel that the government wants the council to simply ‘ok’ its proposals."

But at the end of the day, doesn’t the government have the right, in the form of a mandate, to pass its laws, with or without approval from the social partners, I venture.

Mr Zarb smiles. "That’s not dialogue for us," is his answer.

Turning to the state of the economy and the high number of redundancies witnessed so far this year, the GWU secretary general points out that the union has long been highlighting the need for Malta’s industry to be restructured.

"But this has not happened, and now we have to do things very quickly, which is, as we are already seeing, resulting in an economic shock for the country and subsequently for the workers," he says.

Mr Zarb warns that the GWU is expecting further redundancies this year, not only in manufacturing but also in the parastatal companies and tourism.

"I believe we are now in a recession - 2002 will be a difficult year for the workers, not only because of the 11 September backlash, but because of our own problems," he admits. "It will become harder and harder for people to find new jobs."

Mr Zarb finds it frustrating that the government is moving so slowly in dealing with the country’s difficulties, while throwing all its energies into preparing for European Union membership.

"We have our own problems which must be tackled, and we need to restructure for our own benefit, not for that of others," he says. "For example, we are asking about the running of the new hospital. Who’s going to be responsible for this and what will be the cost? Things are moving far too slowly."

We turn to the issue of the Drydocks. Recent press reports have indicated that the GWU is not happy about the package offered to the workers.

"That is not quite true. Our position is that we are urging the workers to be careful and cautious before accepting the offer – to think it through and discuss it with their families," he explains.

Mr Zarb also stresses that the GWU would much prefer to see a solution whereby more work is brought to the Drydocks rather than redundancies.

I ask him whether he accepts that this is simply too great a challenge, or not enough to save the docks as it is today.

"We are concerned that redundancies are being looked at as the first solution rather than the last resort," he answers. "After all, what has the government done to try to bring work to the docks?

"The work is now dwindling, both at the Drydocks and at Shipbuilding.

Mr Zarb explains that the task force is now set to start discussions about new projects for the workers – a suggestion made in the Appledore Report.
"We hope to start identifying other enterprises, such as the building of buses, or solar systems for Malta," he says.

The Drydocks workers have until the end of May to decide about the redundancy schemes. But in the meantime, the GWU remains adamant that the most important factor in restructuring the ‘yard is to bringing more work there.

"And remember, there are people being well paid to work out how to do just that," he says.