|
A couple of weeks ago we saw the sudden resignation of the CMTU President. Although Mr John Bencini did not elaborate on his resignation, he did give some hints. He admitted that he was not stepping down for personal reasons and he also expected all unions to be on equal footing thus having similar expectations! It is true that in other countries, different types of unions operate together, but unlike in Malta, they share, more or less, the same basic conditions of work.
The new President, Mr William Portelli, comes from the banking field that does not enjoy extraordinary, superb working conditions; in other words, there are no drastic differences between the members of his union and the two major unions of Malta.
I believe that Mr Portelli will not come up with wishful thinking such as that of having a common front for all unions, and then later stating that his union was not against retirement at 65 but his members should be exempted!
Late last year the unions representing the Public Service workers signed our Collective Agreement. But in actual fact, do all classes of workers share equal basic conditions? I am referring to the equation for calculating the 192 hours of Vacation Leave which according to the said Agreement, should be based on the principle of 40 hours a week. There is an ocean of difference between the majority of government employees and three particular groups of glorified workers! The latter work differently in the UK, the country which they like to quote when they want to stress on a particular right.
In the same Agreement we also saw how the Pre-retirement Leave is unfairly calculated. Again there is no distinction between those glorified people who work for only eight months a year and therefore are at a far better advantage to qualify for this leave, and the others who practically have to work the whole year. It is pretty obvious that people who work for about eleven months a year are more prone to avail themselves of sick entitlement, does putting them at a disadvantage for qualification of the Pre-retirement Leave.
Indeed, “work” was the first punishment given by God to Humanity (story of Adam and Eve). I hope Mr Portelli will hear the cries of the majority of unglorified workers that are continually being forced to deliver (produce) more and more. I am sure he understands that two to four days less leave for a person with a meagre 24 days (192 hours) of leave, is highly significant. Working for 40 or more hours a week throughout the whole year leaves little time for play, to enjoy the world, and to work extra part time galore! I am also sure he understands that if you do not work more than 40 hours a week, a gratis break is at the mercy of the employer and not a sole right of the employee. I also wish he understands that having Saturday off without working 40 hours, is another gratis holiday.
As a banker it may however, be a bit difficult for him to accept the concept of precious time as being much more important than money. However, a simple question as an example illustrates my theory: “what’s the use of having a million Liri in your bank account if you do not have enough time to enjoy them?” With this basic principle in mind, I wish that when it comes to retirement age, people who always work 40 or more hours a week are slightly privileged over the others who work less and have salary scale structures.
Being relatively young, I am also confident that Mr Portelli will consider my pension proposals. I find it hard to understand how a person in his mid or late 50s can take the issue of retirement age seriously when he is exempted in the first place? But look at how they had reacted for the issue of just four days less leave last year because it made no age discriminations! How could someone remain passive when the government is unfairly robbing four years from the lives of the younger generations, as if we are the only ones to blame. It is high time that certain people stop eating the good cake alone because the Sun rises for all.
Charles Micallef
San Gwann
|
