Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539305
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS UPE: Workers had it better under Muscat than Abela THE Union of Professional Educators (UPE) has accused Prime Minister Robert Abe- la of repressing workers' rights and claimed that under former premier Joseph Muscat, trade unions and educators enjoyed greater respect and cooperation. In a statement, the union described claims that Abela's government provides "peace of mind" to workers as "pro- foundly ironic", arguing that since Abela became prime minister, educators have faced repressive measures reminis- cent of decades past. The UPE drew a direct com- parison between Abela's lead- ership and that of his prede- cessor, Joseph Muscat. While acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of Mus- cat's premiership, the union said he had at least shown an ability to understand trade un- ions and to engage construc- tively with workers. According to the UPE, the current prime minister appears "oblivious" to the daily chal- lenges faced by educators and has sought to undermine un- ions that represent grassroots teachers. The statement also accused both Abela and Education Minister Clifton Grima of try- ing to curtail educators' fun- damental rights to freedom of expression and association. It warned that the government's stance has created a climate in which monopolistic industrial relations are being maintained within the education system, leaving workers without genu- ine representation. The union further noted that several ombudsman rulings have condemned the govern- ment for inaction and for fail- ing to safeguard workers' basic rights. It claimed that anti-un- ion actions have been imposed in schools, with educators be- ing restrained from publicly voicing their concerns. "Educators and workers' rights are not safe under Robert Abela's leadership," the UPE said, adding that the govern- ment's approach has fallen far short of what workers experi- enced during Muscat's tenure. Concluding its statement, the UPE urged the public and policymakers to "wake up and smell the coffee", warning that the current administration is eroding trust in labour rela- tions and undermining work- ers' peace of mind. NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt UPE compares Joseph Muscat (left) to Robert Abela (right) on labour relations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In exchange, he said he is ready to testify about a web of criminal activity, including murders and bomb threats. He specifically mentioned that he is ready to provide de- tails on the 2014 murder of Jonathan Pace, the owner of Tyson Butcher. Degiorgio is also asking that his 40-year sentence in the Caruana Galizia murder case be reduced to just 15 years. De- giorgio had pleaded guilty to his role in the assassination. Pace, who at the time of his death was accused of the at- tempted murder of Vince Mus- cat 'il-Koħħu', was shot while standing in a residence's bal- cony. The murder remained unsolved but in 2021, the in- vestigation into his death was reopened after cooperation from Vince Muscat revealed new information. In June of this year, Degor- gio was also found guilty of his involvement in the 2015 mur- der of lawyer Carmel Chircop and sentenced to life in prison. Following his conviction, De- giorgio submitted an urgent request to give sworn testimo- ny in the ongoing magisterial inquiry into the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journal- ist Daphne Caruana Galizia. In his application, he in- formed Assistant Commission- er Keith Arnaud that he wished to reveal all information he had regarding the bomb that caused her death. He empha- sised that his cooperation was not motivated by any desire for a reduced sentence or other benefits. The request was filed by law- yers Noel Bianco and Leslie Cuschieri. Convicted hitman George Degiorgio has asked for a presidential pardon, saying he is ready to testify about the 2014 gangland killing of Jonathan Pace and other crimes linked to 'prominent people' George Degiorgio is ready to tell all about the 2014 murder of Tyson Butcher's Jonathan Pace Right: George Degiorgio (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)