In recent times, FORUM, a confederation of independent trade unions set up in 2004, has repeatedly voiced its request to be represented on Malta’s national tripartite institution for social dialogue, the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD). The employer organisations stated that, to fulfil this request, the trade unions represented on the MCESD would have to forfeit one seat on the council to make way for a FORUM representative.
Trade unions represented on council
Malta’ national tripartite institution for social dialogue, set up in 1988 under the name of the Malta Council for Economic Development (MCED), was given legal status in 2001 by the enactment of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) Act. The trade unions represented on this institution are: the General Workers’ Union (GWU), by far Malta’s largest trade union; the Union of United Workers (Union Haddiema Maghqudin, UHM), the countervailing force of GWU; and the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU), an umbrella organisation comprising 10 trade unions including UHM and the Malta Union of Bank Employees (MUBE). UHM, in spite of being an affiliate of CMTU, obtained its own specific representation on the MCESD.
About FORUM
These trade union organisations have been enjoying uninterrupted representation on the MCESD since its establishment. However, in recent times, another force has come to the fore under the name of Forum Unions Maltin (FORUM). The initiative to form this organisation of independent trade unions was taken by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), which is Malta’s fifth largest trade union in terms of membership and which has never been an affiliate of CMTU. FORUM comprises 11 trade union organisations, most of which represent clerical and professional staff.
In January 2009, it received a boost when the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT), Malta’s third largest trade union, joined FORUM after withdrawing its membership from CMTU following an inter union dispute (MT0901019I). At present, FORUM represents about 11,000 workers, which is equivalent to 12% of all Malta’s unionised workers. This added strength has reinforced FORUM’s demand to be represented on the MCESD, which it has been demanding since its inception.
FORUM demands representation on MCESD
What has lately made FORUM’s demand for representation on the MCESD more vociferous was the discrimination it alleged to have suffered at the hands of the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment. In the pre-budget consultation process, FORUM was not invited to the consultation meeting organised by the ministry with the social partners. FORUM’s President, John Bencini, stated that this omission was by design rather than by default and as such is discriminatory. The Maltese Green Party (Alternattiva Demokratika, AD), without a representative seat in parliament, gave its full support categorically stating that denying FORUM of the opportunity to take part in the social dialogue process through the MCESD is unfair and discriminatory.
Composition of seats on council
In the meantime, the Malta Employers’ Association (MEA) and the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) stated that in order to accede to FORUM’s request and accept it as a member of the MCESD, the trade unions currently represented on the council have to agree to forfeit one of their seats. GWU’s Secretary General, Tony Zarb, highlighted that the employer representatives outnumber the trade union officials on the MCESD. According to the MCESD Act (Article 4), the council shall be composed of ‘nine persons nominated by representative national employers’ and workers’ organisations constituted bodies’.
At present, these nine persons comprise five representatives from the employer organisations and four from the trade unions. On behalf of GWU, Mr Zarb, is suggesting an amendment to this clause by making a provision for another member. This added member assigned to FORUM will bring parity of representation between employers and trade unions.
Commentary
The trade union movement in Malta has so far been split into two groups, with GWU on one side, and CMTU and its affiliates, notably UHM as the largest union within its fold, on the other. FORUM, feeling that it has now become a force to be reckoned with, may be adding a third dimension. Indeed, its inclusion on the MCESD would be an acknowledgement of the existence of a third force in the Maltese trade union movement. GWU has been tacitly giving FORUM its support. Although FORUM and GWU do not share the same political ideology, they have developed an affinity between them. Such affinity is completely missing among the other members of the MCESD. The two largest trade unions within FORUM, namely MUMN and MUT, are seen as default members by CMTU and UHM. Most of the old members of MUMN are former members of UHM who decided to set up their own union. MUT’s dispute with and its eventual withdrawal from CMTU are also too recent. It looks as if it may take some time before FORUM’s request to be represented on the MCESD will be agreed to.
Saviour Rizzo, Centre for Labour Studies