Thursday, 17th July 2008 - 15:25CET
UPDATED: Transport: draft agreement rejected, mediation continues
(Adds details on proposals and draft agreement)
The Transport Federation last night made fresh proposals to the government about a solution to the transport strike and the government this morning replied with a draft agreement which was totally unacceptable, Transport Federation president Victor Spiteri said this afternoon.
Speaking at Qormi, where the police have confined all red minibuses (picture), Mr Spiteri said the proposals were made after the Malta Hearses Association pulled out of the federation.
Mr Spiteri said that while up to last night he had hopes of an agreement, those hopes were dashed.
He said, however, that further mediation is taking place.
Mr Spiteri said the federation was calling for talks and not the imposition of liberalisation on public transport but the draft agreement the government had proposed conditioned all sectors of public transport to liberalisation. This, Mr Spiteri said, went beyond EU requirements, which only spoke of liberalisation in the operation of bus routes. He said the federation is also calling on the government to withdraw fines and other penalties imposed since the strike began and the reinstatement of contracts such as that at the Park and Ride.
Mr Spiteri also expressed fears that the army might take over public transport vehicles, put on new number plates on them, and provide transport services.
At Qormi, the police are only letting up to 10 minibuses leave. No other minibuses are being allowed out until the first 10 return.
The buses are under similar watch at the Valletta terminus and army trucks have been parked across the road. A number of white taxis are being held at the airport.
RSS
Comments
Have you ever heard the phrase "You do the crime you do the time (or pay the fine)? Where do you come off demanding that the authorities withdraw the sanctions that have been rightfully and legally levelled at your rabble of thugs? Let them pay their fines (the heaviest possible) and spend their time in prison (the longest possible) for their actions. You have some nerve demanding that the government reverse its decision to withhold the daily €60,000 subsidy during your illegal activities.
You, Mr. Spiteri should be held legally personally accountable and preferably heavily fined or imprisoned for providing support and direction to those bums. In legal terms, you are an accessory before, during, and after the commission of the crimes committed by your members.
This is not the time for the authorities to go soft and mushy in a misplaced display of graciousness in victory. It is the time for the government to stamp out for good the arrogant attitude of this bunch of louts who dare to call themselves public transport operators. Permanently revoke their licences. If necessary, let the AFM take over public transport for a while.
How do the strikers dare to be so cheeky as to ask that the (relatively) few fines that they booked (compared to all the contraventions that they have committed) be withdrawn?
If a single striker´s fine is forgiven, as a law-abiding citizen I´d demand by right to be credited a fine withdrawal should I ever be booked for one while in Malta.
Hopefully, with so many entities sueing for damages, they´d be bankrupt long before they can accumulate more fines!
Shame on you........supporting these hooligans
first of all well done, now it's the time to re employ decent bus drivers and retire all the strikers licence after all their bad manners to the public and police officers!!! Shame on you bus drivers and by the way don't expect any gratuities (tips) from the public for sure now!
and mini vans at the Valletta terminus and Qormi. The next step is to requisition them all, scrap the ones whose 'best before date' is long past and have the army drive the rest until such time that The Transport Federation starts to reason. The complete overhaul of Malta's transport requirements for which we the tax payers have forked out millions, is long overdue.
At least now it's pay back time. No-one sympathizes you Bus Drivers for all your provocative and unlawful actions all throughout these years. Congrats go to the police and task force for their effort and Dr. Gatt to have the guts to have stood for these so called Heros..
Let's hope so!
If the army does take over the buses to work with them, kindly remember that this will only be a temporary issue for one or two days maximum. What the country requires is not a temporary adjustment, but a long-term plan for the public transport which the federation is willing to discuss about.
Also, the bus drivers will not be keen to see their buses in other people's hands, they have worked hard for their buses, and to the contrary of what has been said, the government only partly subsidized the new buses, lots of money were still inputted by the bus drivers themselves. Subsidy or not, the buses are theirs, and no one can say that they own any of them, except themselves. Another example of government subsidy is that for first home buyers, but I do not think that anyone would ever dream to go and knock these people's doors and claim that they own part of their house, just because they pay taxes like anyone else (even public transport drivers pay taxes)!!
We are not some banana republic. Some comments come over thuggish as the unlawful actions of the transpoet workers themselves (with the latter having an excuse that they feel that they are facing loss of bread-and-butter income to sustain their families).
It is a sober move that of Mr Prime Minister who points to the discussion table. I feel that all this fuss should have been avoided. Toning down of rhetoric may be in order.
Final note: Building contractors seeking compensation! I find this amazing coming from a group that has rendered our everywhere one veritable building-site.
Govmt has shown a very high degree of sensitivity in its approach, albeit at a high cost, but maybe worthwhile in view of other unruly children sulking in the background.
No buses barging at you half way on your lane at God knows how many kph just to overtake a slower car!
No buses half in their allotted space as a bus stop and half in your lane with a menacing,always on, right side indicator. This, just in case the bus barges out at you all of a sudden, and the driver can always say his indicator was on! OH and this is probably to keep all traffic in check behind them, making sure nobody overtakes them especially in peek driving hours
No belching smoke...........phewww....................loved it today!!!
Should the strike prolong, the next thing is to requisition these vehicles and employ drivers to run the service which drivers will then have to be retained and sustained by the Association.
Civically striking for better conditions is one thing. Terrorising the country is another!
European law is what it is and the government should move forward, with force if neccessary, to restrain cowboys who think they can take the law in their hands. I do hope that all who were caught causing damage will have their licences revoked and brought to justice.
Shame on the federation and whomever is heading it. Talk about cutting your nose to spite your face....
Do these people enjoy being disliked (for want of a better word) by the whole nation?
Having the streets rid of all the buses and minibuses, I managed not to send even one SMS to 50611189 (Emissions) to report either a bus or a minibus which was emitting a lot of Co2.
Also today I have managed to drive around all Malta without having to close my car window because some old bus or minibus spitting black smoke.
I appeal to one and all, that after all this is finished, we, the people, will make it a point to report all those buses and minibus which emit black smoke from their vehicles. Maybe someday we will get rid of them all.
Well said!! I couldnt agree with you more! Would love to see Spiteri on Hard Talk!
So what if the army takes over the buses and starts providing the service taxpayers expect ? The sooner the better, although its better if the old buses are transferred to the Pembroke shooting range and used as target practice by the army to finally take them off the roads !!
By closing the roads and disrupting the population at large they gained the public's contempt.
The goverment should hold firm and not give in to their demands if they broke the law they should pay the fines. After all if I get a fine I pay .
Well done to the goverment , keep it up , Dr Gatt , this country needs people like you.
If the government does agree with this request, I hope that the same government will grant an amnesty to all law abiding citizens that have pending fines by the local councils. Why should they be treated different to anybody else. As for the Park and Ride scheme, your members broke a contract and as such should have known what the consequences would be.
We Joe Public have no sympathy for you, your association and your members! Enoyugh is enough.
If this were an ordinary strike, then yes, the police would be out of order. However, considering that these people are striking not as a last resort, but over questionable reasons, not to mention blocking roads and being violent, then yes, the police have every right to exert control. This is not a question of democratic values, but of keeping public order.
If they want to act like savages, then that is the treatment they deserve!
No No Mr Spiteri, Govt & co..just work your way out in silence and descreetion...just tell us 'tax payers' when we have to fork out the money...At the moment we are praying, obeying and later we pass on the quids......At least someone smile at us....please and say thank you......for being honest law abiding citizens...
Why don't the police give them community service? I believe that they owe the country an apology and they can pay us back by making themselves useful, felt, seen and welcomed.
Their healing process is going to be a long one although i understand that not all taxi, bus and minibus drivers where in favou of the strike.
The governement should provide alternative free service for a few weeks. it would give them enough time to reflect.
I hope the Government continues to put his foot down and not give in to these neanderthals. Competition is healthy, the public transport here in Maltese needs a drastic change and revamping. Liberalization is the only way forward!
Well done to the Government and Austin Gatt.
It is true that the police force might have looked initially looked weak, but with hindsight they have handled the issue very well, avoiding things going out of hand, arresting people but doing it in due time to avoid escalation and getting the situation under control. Mr Spiteri your attempts at brinksmanship have failed miserably. I suggest that you resign. You either do not want or are unable to handle the members of your union. And kudos for your brilliant suggestion - you have actually proposed a very tidy solution to the dispute.
And Mr. effie carbonaro, do not be silly - no driver is confined to any pen - it is their vehicles, subsidised by your money and mine that are confined and rightly so -instead of using them to transport Maltese citizens and tourists (or kept them in their garages if they wanted to strike) they used them to create chaos and mayhem. Shame!
That would be a great idea. We see if they will pull the battery out of the engine, or smash the windscreen, or throw away the keys in this case!!!
I also think that at this stage the government should come out with the final proposals in order to avoid another similar situation being repeated next year!
do you realise you are the only one who is against what actions the police force is taking? Haven't you noticed that these persons (if we can call them so), have not only striked (which is their right), but they made the life of respectable Maltese citizens, and that of the tourists we have been working hard to bring over, hell.
During the past days, these workers have shown that they should be treated like animals, and enclosed in a pen, for the safety of the rest of the Maltese population. After all the police force is there to safeguard and protect us from the actions of these criminals!
Come'on! Forget your MLP love for once and speak sensibly!
Are you trying to portray yourself as the victim by any chance?
We like what you are suspecting will happen. Please government do take over the buses and mini vans and taxis and offer the services to all of us without delay.
We ask the government not to strike a deal to include pardons. We demand justice is done.
Malta is behind the government, the police force and the army as well as the justice system.
We know the Prime Minister will not let us down.
Particular thanks to Dr A Gatt for the courage he has shown in dealing with this situation and who bore all the brunt.
Another thanks goes to all political parties and others who have shown support to the government.
Let us hope that in future on matters concerning national issues we will all stand together and support the government in power be it PN or MLP.
It seems we are finally maturing politically.
My last thanks go to Mr Spiteri for through his actions he managed to unite us Maltese for a change.
Obviously Mintoff was not man enough to do it ... Some one else seems to be :)
well done ... Keep going!
Yes THIS is a democratic country, for the simple reason that Majority Rules, the minority attacked the Majority and the Majority prevailed, hence we have a Working Democracy.
They are not Strikers, they are anarchists. No striker blocks the roads and causes chaos, the people who do that are referred to as hooligans and anarchists. This not calling them terrorists or insurgents for the attempted Coup d'etat.
Strike means Refuse to Work, nothing more nothing less and I have no idea what your interpretation of Strike Means, but let me tell you, its incorrect in the context you used it.
I also think you are going against your Factional Duties by going against your leader, Joseph Muscat. He too, agrees with the governement's, hard stance.
Democracy is showing and glowing, Malta has never been less divided. I mean how many Laborites here agree with the strike/riot ? 1 ? 2? 3?
Issa you will show us how macho thugs you are in court Mr. Victor Spiteri and dear Federation committee members, ..... check your bank account balance as it will soon be dried up with all the court cases and claims you are going to face and pay after your assured protest you did.
You made us civilians suffer heat and loss of money in fuel consumption for your blocking strategy, now it is time you taste your own medicine!
You should all be ashamed of your self and .......
@ Mr Spiteri: But haven't you realised that the people are not with you? Haven't you realised that we prefer the military to man your puses than yourselves????????????????
Regards to the comments by Mr. Spiteri where he is fearing that
the army will take over their busses etc., I suggest that this should
be done immediately, as he didn't cared from nothing during the
llegal strike by his members. He didn't cared from the workers to
go to work, from the emergency services, from the tourists regards
their hardships, from the hotels and the restaurants and the list
goes on and on.
Mr. Spiteri now is the time that you as president and your commitee
will pay the price for what you and your members have done in the
past days.
For me and others there is no way of mediation. The government should
act by withdrawing all licenses and your members will apply again under strict
conditions.
No ' INSIEKEN' any more. I hope that this is the last.
How does it feel to have all Malta hate you? And how does it feel having the people you were supposedly striking for abandon you?
You are nothing but a sick joke.
Perhaps the minister should simply withdraw all licenses and start the whole thing from scratch. Not having the usual bullies on the road has made a difference to most drivers, we are sick of mayhem and indisciplined people creating chaos. There is need for a firm stand.
Who wants a service, where a driver tells his commuters "Bejjem ersqu lura!!!!"
Are they by any chance refusing to pay the fines and consequences for their actions ?!?
As for the confiscation and control over the vehicles....WELL DONE to the authorities, and keep it up. I also think that the idea of the army taking over the vehicles to use as emergency transport is brilliant. After all, most buses are partly owned by the tax payers !!!
What is the government waiting to do exactly that? Bring them to their knees and wipe off their arrogance.
If they dont want to work - they dont work, but then that would mean that they no longer require / want / need the monopoly
Well Done to the Govt
I suggest to Minister Gatt that ADT should suspend all licences of all bus drivers, mini bus drivers and taxi drivers and re-apply under condition that they did not break the law during their strike action. Those drivers who broke the law should not be given licences back as we, the public, will be riding public transport in the hands of law-breakers.
Once at it, all vehicles should pass a VRT and tested strictly for emisions maybe hopefully we will eliminate the offenders once and for all.