David Darmanin
GRTU Director-General Vince Farrugia yesterday counter-challenged Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt after the latter doubted whether small business owners would respect a union directive to default part of the payment owed to Enemalta in electricity bills.
“Vince Farrugia has every right to issue any directive he wishes,” Gatt had told sister paper Business last week. “We’ll see whether his members obey him or otherwise.”
But Farrugia yesterday said he had no doubts on his intention to issue the directive, claiming the law is on his side.
“By consumer law, I have every right to refuse paying for a product or service that does not meet its required standards for which it is priced,” he said, “With the new utility tariffs, small businesses are subsidising industry, and this goes against consumer regulations.”
Farrugia claimed operators need not fear any action against their refusal to pay, and that if need be, the union is ready to provide its members with legal assistance on the matter.
“I am sure that with the law being on our side, they will have nothing to fear,” he said. “We will be working out the percentages which should not be due to Enemalta, and if our members are still ready to pay the full amount, we will recommend they give the additional amount to charity, not to Enemalta.”
Farrugia confirmed that the GRTU accepts Gatt’s challenge: “We will show him whether or not our members will comply. We are in discussion with our lawyers on this, and we can confirm that GRTU accepts Austin Gatt’s challenge. We will take it up.”

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