In a statement today, AD spokesperson on social policy Anna Azzopardi referred to the GWU proposal on compulsory membership of trade unions of their choice in all places of work, with an option for objectors to opt out provided they pay up to a fund for initiatives in favour of decent working conditions for all workers.
Anna Azzopardi said:”Trade Unions are right when they complain about ‘free riders’ who enjoy the benefits of collective bargaining, enjoying the fruits of the determination of others to stand up for their rights, while they sit on the fence. Outright dismissal of these GWU proposals by some shows a lack of understanding of the world of work and the imbalance of effective power between employers and employees, especially in some sectors of the economy.”
AD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo added :“AD understands that the motivation for this proposal is the need to ensure that solidarity is the basic building block of trade union activity: to protect vulnerable employees, including those subject to zero-hour contracts, casual or part time employment as well as to discourage free riders. Solidarity should be the foundation stone of all social policy.”
”AD believes that protecting vulnerable workers should be a national priority. As such, the party supports efforts to increase both trade union presence as well as shop-floor unity. However it considers that more detailed information on the GWU proposal is required to be placed in the public domain. Consequently AD invites the GWU to publish a detailed proposal including information on similar experiences elsewhere.”
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Il-ħarsien tal-ħaddiema vulnerabbli għandha tkun prijorita’ nazzjonali.
Fi stqarrija il-kelliema ta’ AD għall-politika soċjali Anna Azzopardi irreferiet għall-proposta tal-GWU dwar sħubija mandatorja tal-ħaddiema fi trade union tal-għazla tagħhom, bid-dritt għal dawk li ma jaqblux ma dan illi jkunu eżentati bil-kundizzjoni li jikkontribwixxu għal fond favur inizjattivi dwar titjib fil-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol.
Anna Azzopardi qalet:”Il-Unions huma korretti meta jilmentaw dwar dawk li jieħdu l-benefiċċji kollha ta’ kull ftehim kollettiv mingħajr ma jikkontribwixxu għalih b’impenn u ħidma fuq il-post tax-xoghol. Minflok dawn jieħdu rikba minn fuq ħaddiehor. Li wieħed iwarrab bla ebda konsiderazzjoni l-proposta tal-GWU, kif rajna dal-aħħar, ifisser nuqqas ta’ għarfien tad-dinja tax-xoghol u tal-iżbilanċ fil-poter effettiv bejn min iħaddem u dawk li jaħdmu, speċjalment f’ċertu setturi tal-ekonomija.”
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ AD Carmel Cacopardo żied:”Alternattiva Demokratika tifhem li din il-proposta hi motivate mill-ħtiega li s-solidarjeta’ tkun dejjem iktar il-bazi tal-ħidma trejdunjonistika biex jitharsu l-ħaddiema vulnerabbli, inkluż dawk b’kuntratti part-time mingħajr rabta ta’ numru ta’ siegħat minimi (zero-hour contracts), kif ukoll biex ikun stabilit il-prinċipju li min se jgawdi mill-ħidma trejdunjonistika ikollu l-obbligu li jikkontribwixxi ghaliha. Is-solidarjeta’ għandha tkun il-pedament tal-politika socjali.”
“AD temmen li l-ħarsien tal-ħaddiema vulnerabbli għandha tkun prijorita’ nazzjonali. Tappoġġa għaldaqstant kull sforz biex tiżdied il-preżenza trejdunjonistika fuq il-post tax-xoghol kif ukoll l-għaqda benj il-ħaddiema fuq kull post tax-xogħol. AD hi tal-fehma li l-GWU għandha tlaħħam il-proposta taghha u tispjegaha f’iktar dettall. Għal dan l-iskop AD tistieden lill-GWU biex tippubblika dettalji dwar il-proposta tagħha inkluż informazzjoni dwar esperjenzi simili f’pajjizi oħra.”
