The Union Press was founded in 1944. Starting from modest beginnings it has expanded over the years into one of the best equipped printing houses in Malta. Employing about 150 people, Union Press is one of the leading printing presses on the island. Besides printing the GWU's two newspapers, the Union Press is also Printer of other publications such as the 'Antenna' the television and radio times.

The Union Press has pioneered offset colour printing in Malta and is fully equipped with a Planning and Design Department and a Photography Department. Alongside the Union Press there is also the Union Print for Commercial Printing.

The Union Press Publications have emerged as one of the most important and influential group of newspapers in Malta.

The first newspaper of the group to be published was The Torch. This was on October 23, 1944 and it coincided with the first anniversary of the founding of the General Workers Union. The Torch was a bilingual weekly newspaper in English and Maltese and it was published with the declared aim of spreading amongst the people of Malta and abroad the news and views of the strong emergent workers' movement in Malta.

On October 25, 1959, the name, format and presentation of The Torch was changed and from a bilingual paper it became 'It-Torca', a popular mass circulation Sunday paper in Maltese.

The other newspaper, L-orizzont was first published on November 19, 1962. It was a tremendous success from the start. It became an important national paper, distinct from the other newspapers at the time, for its good and innovative news coverage, freshness and punch.