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23 November, 1999After police and military brutalised strikers in August, it is now the union which is being arraigned in court.
MALTA: In a decided threat by the Maltese government and attempt to prevent unions from taking industrial action, 17 officers and 24 members of the General Workers' Union are being arraigned in court with regard to the incidents which occurred on August 20, 1999, at Malta's international airport.
On that day, the police and military brutally broke up a legitimate GWU strike. Many strikers were arrested, dragged into police trucks and taken to police headquarters. A number of them were injured, some needing treatment at the hospital. On August 21, when all those who had been detained were released, the strike was suspended.
Among the officials who are having charges pressed against them are the GWU's president, James Pearsall; the general secretary, Tony Zarb; the international secretary, Michael Parnis; the vice-president, Saviour Sammut, as well as eight section secretaries and the union's legal consultant, Dr. George Abela. The various accusations range from illegal obstruction of police action to violent resistance against the police. If the court rules against them, they could receive sentences of up to two years in prison and be fined.
In the coming days, the GWU will be mobilising the membership to show their deep concern for the government's attempts to undermine the free exercise of their trade union rights and would greatly appreciate messages of support for their struggle. The union e-mail address is [email protected] or fax on (356) 242-975.
Earlier IMF news items concerning this strike and what followed are dated August 23, August 30 and October 6.
On that day, the police and military brutally broke up a legitimate GWU strike. Many strikers were arrested, dragged into police trucks and taken to police headquarters. A number of them were injured, some needing treatment at the hospital. On August 21, when all those who had been detained were released, the strike was suspended.
Among the officials who are having charges pressed against them are the GWU's president, James Pearsall; the general secretary, Tony Zarb; the international secretary, Michael Parnis; the vice-president, Saviour Sammut, as well as eight section secretaries and the union's legal consultant, Dr. George Abela. The various accusations range from illegal obstruction of police action to violent resistance against the police. If the court rules against them, they could receive sentences of up to two years in prison and be fined.
In the coming days, the GWU will be mobilising the membership to show their deep concern for the government's attempts to undermine the free exercise of their trade union rights and would greatly appreciate messages of support for their struggle. The union e-mail address is [email protected] or fax on (356) 242-975.
Earlier IMF news items concerning this strike and what followed are dated August 23, August 30 and October 6.