I have just finished reading multiple times the beliefs of Guze Ellul Mercer in the former Gazette “Il-Hmara.” He explains why he chose to join the Labour side of politics.

I also joined the Workers Movement side through my early years going back to the fifties, when Secondary Schools, books and the necessary utilities were financed by Government. When the ideas of our islands being able to stand on their own two feet were being rooted. When Social Services and the general well being of the lower classes were being given a strong push forward.

It was this that persuaded me to join this movement. I loved seeing the General Workers Union fight for the betterment of the lower classes of people, which back in the 50s was only just at the initial stage of acquiring workers rights.

In the mid 60s I was part of the G.W.U. Youth Section. We organised the first discos at the G.W.U. Headquarters with the approval and backing of two of my former dear friends Messrs George Agius and Vince Esposito.

Together with Eddie Scicluna I was elected to be the Youth European Representative and attended meetings held in Vienna and other countries. It was through this position that I was nominated into the Labour Party Executive.

I became the first Shop Steward for the Dry Docks Security Guards and after numerous consultations with former Judge Harding in advising if we as security could join a union, we did in fact join and were promptly sacked for eight weeks and replaced by others.

It was through Dom Mintoff at a Public Meeting in Hamrun who defended our case that an arrangement was made by the G.W.U. to get our jobs back.

Workers’ Rights

We got our rights through arbitration and from this experience I always fought for workers rights. When Chairman of the Gozo Channel I made sure that all workers were equal, happy and had the best conditions possible.

Present Day

Today the people’s general situations are fairly good but NOT for all I am sorry to say. For these last years many employees are being employed by “So Called Contractors.” Thus a grave discrimination is being made between two employees doing the same work. Those hired by “Contractors” are getting lesser pay for the same work and hours worked.

This is not right or in any way justified and it is happening under the same “Movement” that I love so much and have worked so hard for.

1971

I remember vividly when the Labour Party under Dom Mintoff brought in the 40 hour week instead of the previous 48 hour week and also another most important law of “Equal Pay For Equal Work.”

I also recollect how pleased all the workers were at that time by this much needed improvement in worker’s rights.

These Last Years

So how can I as a worker and Labour Socialist approve of having some workers doing the same hours and the same work but only getting almost half of what the regular workers are paid.

For me, this is a gross injustice which is approved, made and adopted by my own political party and government.

This is simply not right and as a Unionist and Former Member of Parliament, I am once again voicing my total disapproval of this system.

We must give all the workers what is rightfully theirs, protect their rights and eliminate these contractors from their abusive position.

The general position of citizens welfare has progressed immensely under consecutive Labour Governments, but this is sadly lacking when dealing with “These Contracting Bodies.”

Lino DeBono

Former Labour MP – Union Delegate – Former President and now Honorary President of the European and Council of Europe Former Members – Secretary of the Maltese Former Parliamentarians.

Photo shows Lino DeBono addressing Gozo Government Workers in the GWU – supplied by author

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