Updated | PN threatens court action that could 'force GWU to evict its Workers' Memorial Building'

The Nationalist Party has filed a judicial protest in an attempt to stop the General Workers' Union (GWU) from renting out part of its headquarters to third parties in breach of a public contract.

A National Audit report in 2015 found that the GWU had breached the conditions of its government lease when it rented out part of the Workers' Memorial Building in Valletta to state-owned utilities company ARMS and the Sciacca Grill steakhouse.

In 1957, the government granted the GWU the Valletta building on a perpetual emphyteusis as a site on which it can build its headquarters for trade union activities and its Union Press. A parliamentary resolution in 1997 amended the lease, allowing the union to rent our parts of the property to other companies – but only to those in which it is a majority shareholder.

Read more: GWU lease of Valletta offices ‘breaches public contract’

"We have acted prudently so far, but 15 months have passed since the NAO released its report, and the government has not taken any action against the GWU for breaching the conditions of its ground rent," shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi told a press conference. "It is clear that there are laws for gods and laws for animals."

The judicial protest - signed by every PN MP - gives the Lands Commissioner and the Attorney General a 15-day ultimatum to evict ARMS and Sciacca Grill from the GWU's premises. Failing that, the PN will formally charge the GWU in court with breaching the conditions of its public contract.

"The court will then be obliged to not only declare the GWU's rent deals null and void, but to give the entire Workers' Memorial Building back to the government," Opposition MP Ryan Callus warned. “It is extremely concerning that the government is allowing the GWU to break the law so blatantly.” 

Will the PN's court action be curtains for the popular Sciacca steakhouse?

‘PM proving boundless hatred against us’ – GWU

The GWU blamed the PN’s court action on the party’s “boundless hatred” against the union, and its press conference an attempt to obscure its work in favour of workers.

“It’s ironic that this attack has come from Jason Azzopardi, a person who has no credibility when it comes to speaking about cases that have been investigated by the Auditor General because he himself has been implicated in a NAO report on shortcomings in the transfer of land.

“This is not the first time that the PN has tried to shut the GWU’s doors. The Workers’ Memorial Building is the fruit of the labour and dedication of thousands of members who had donated what little money they had to the GWU, so that it could have a headquarters from where it could seek to improve the conditions of Maltese workers.

“We are disappointed to note that, despite what they say behind closed doors, the PN still intends to attack and try and destroy the union because it knows that it will always be on the side of righteousness.”