Six organisations file protest against transport federation

Joseph Galea

Jul 17th 2008, 18:55

Lee Cutajar - The problem is not with holding a strike but with breaking the law.

M Xerri

Jul 17th 2008, 17:49

I don't know if this is a genuine mistake but can't understand why a judicial protest against the GBOA (Gozo Bus Owners Association) was filed by these organizations. I am totally sure that bus owners in Gozo have offered their usual service both regards the public transport and private trips. However, due to the stike in Malta, several tourist daily trips were cancelled as these could not make their way to Cirkewwa. On the contrary a new service, the Gozo Discovery Bus, was introduced and was quite successful with tourists. Another thing worth mentioning is that Gozo bus owners do not receive any sort of subsidy from the Government.

Tonio Mallia

Jul 17th 2008, 17:48

To Lee Cutajar

Lee everybody has a right to strike. No one has the right to commit violence. Also just what exactly are these people striking about????

They are striking cause they are seeing their impunity at risk of disappearing. That impunity which makes them get away with murder!!!! Their king of the road status is under threat!!

Now is the time to reign in these thugs!

Charles Camilleri

Jul 17th 2008, 16:00

We hope that our courts will not take years to award damages to these Associations.

Joseph Borg

Jul 17th 2008, 15:55

I am just pondering where will the millions of euro come from should the court case turn against the Federation of Troglodytes.

Noel Cutajar

Jul 17th 2008, 15:22

...timely orchestrated judicial protests...fair enough to say that three of the organizations, the government is a stakeholder...and they expect the government's full support!!! Oh blimey what a crazy country we live in!! Democracy in its full glory...

lee cutajar

Jul 17th 2008, 15:18

I do agree with all of you, infact i said that this kind of strike was disgusting.. Me too suffered the inconvenience, as one time i got stuck in the traffic for more than 2 hours..What i meant is that i don't agree that if someone tries to raise his voice will be sued! my apologies if someone got me wrong.

Daphne Caruana Galizia

Jul 17th 2008, 15:14

@ Lee Cutajar: I think you mean dictatorship not dictatorate. At least get it right, if you're going to bother arguing against it.

Joseph Debono

Jul 17th 2008, 14:59

lee Cutajar
Everybody has the right to strike but nobody has the right to block roads and main Arteries.
Nor do they have the right to intimidate and to punch people and to not let tourists get to the airport for their flights.
This went beond any boundery and now they will pay the price.

A Citizen

Jul 17th 2008, 14:56

To the striking drivers: is this the brand malta the mta wanted??

Don't these drivers realize that their livelihood is derived from tourism??
Jaqtghu mniehirhom biex jinku lill wicchom

Barrie Stott

Jul 17th 2008, 14:44

RE: Lee Cutajar

Saying that we all have the right to have our voices heard is fair enough (I fully agree as I am not one to stay quiet); but what these *people* are doing is not "having their voice heard" it is rioting. They have practically ruined Malta's relationship with tourists and, for that, the country will likely suffer. Malta has so much to offer historically and after the last few days I HIGHLY doubt that most tourists will come back. Most may write to their OWN tourist authorities about this shameful behaviour of our public transport authorities. I can safely say I will not feel safe on public transport anymore after this incident and I hope that the Government does all they can to lead us back to normality in the VERY near future!

Cedric Busuttil

Jul 17th 2008, 14:42

@ lee cutajjar. one may let his voice be heard and protest in thousands of ways. Just to put you in the picture i will give you some examples. You may do a food strike, walk with banners and slogans, suspend your service for an indefinite time etc etc. When you block roads, intimidate, cuase damages, stea vehiclel keys, cause severe inconveniences to the public etc etc then this is not a strike. Then I call this ABUSE. We live in dictatorate if we let these things happens, mate. In the past I've been well involved in unions, I striked and assisted in strikes - But never this way!!

Lawrencw Camilleri

Jul 17th 2008, 14:33

ALL IDIVIDUALS who suffered hardship and damages should join the protesting Organisations and Associations and lodge their protest in Court. That is their sacrosant right .

valerie scicluna

Jul 17th 2008, 14:30

@lee cutajar. did you read all the article? I think you missed this part:
"The organisations in a statement said it was totally unacceptable that a few law-breaking individuals could attempt to take control of strategic areas such as the airport, sea terminal and main roads."
That was not part of the strike. the law only gives them the right to stop their service but not to block roads and prevent other workers from going to work.

Chris Sammut

Jul 17th 2008, 14:27

I agree that everyone has a right to voice their concerns, however, there are ways and means of protesting. What if an ambulance could not reach a patient in time due to illegally caused traffic jams. Lost flights and flight connections, Thousands of families who depend on tourism for a living. All this has been disrupted by a group of individuals who do not care less. Wake up and smell the coffee... For every action there is a reaction and you have to pay the consequences.

Ruben A Xuereb

Jul 17th 2008, 14:23

@Lee Cutajar.
Being sued by a number of affected sectors of the Maltese Industry, mainly the tourism one, does not make our country a dictatorate. If the ATP member practiced their right to strike with a peacful demonstration on foot or a sit in strike at home without offering their services, no one would have had the right to sue them, ...HOWEVER, the cases have been subjected due to the inconveniences caused by the behaviour we've seen in the past days. No strike in a civilised, democratic country should resolve to the blockage of main roads and airport to the detriment of the people's lives and the country's image and main source of income- tourism. So for all of the above mentioned reason, the protests are only in the public's and the country's interests.

George S Darmanin

Jul 17th 2008, 14:20

@ Lee Cutajar

They did not just strike but created anarchy. They have the right to strike but not close roads and stop other workers, tourists etc... from reaching their destination by other means of transportation

Alan Partridge

Jul 17th 2008, 13:08

Good THROW THE BOOK AT THEM. They have inconvinienced us for long enough, now it's their turn to get a taste of their own medicin.

lee cutajar

Jul 17th 2008, 13:03

should these judicial protests will be accomplished, this means that we are living in a dictatorate country..everyone got the right to strike..Ok, i don't agree that those who went on strike use any kind of violence,as this was disgusting, but on the other hand i don't see anything wrong to let your voice to be heard !

Isabelle Agius

Jul 17th 2008, 12:45

Well Done! Not that they will mind though.