Stan Bates, Cawthorne South Yorkshire, UK
The strike by transport operators and its negative effects on the economy (7)
On behalf of my family I'd like to make an apology to the law-abiding, hard-working people of Malta. We have holidayed in Malta for the past five years but we won't be returning.
Our decision is not because we have tired of the climate, culture or history, nor do we think we have seen all the island has to offer but, having always stood up to bullies and thugs, we could now never hand over money to a bus or taxi driver without wondering if they were one of those intimidating elderly cruise passengers at the dockside, smashing the windows of coaches containing families or preventing their own countrymen from reaching hospital.
In all honesty, and although we may have an opinion, we don't know enough about Maltese life to know if the reasons for striking are reasonable or not.
We do know, however, that, just as with terrorism, no government can cave in to negotiations in a climate of intimidation and violence. Thus, the striker's strategy, however justified their case may be, is doomed from the outset.
The UK has recently seen an unpleasant dispute between petrol tanker drivers and their employers. This dispute caused inconvenience to the public while the union demonstrated its power by removing its labour. However, because of the way the union conducted itself, public opinion never turned against them. (Whether or not it was ever with the strikers is another matter.)
There may be lessons to be learned by their Maltese counterparts as the dispute ended with a victory by the drivers.
Sadly, our holiday money has been spent in our very nice, but internationally-owned, hotel. We are very sorry that the local traders in Valletta, Mdina, Ta' Qali and elsewhere haven't benefitted from our stay but the responsibility for that lies elsewhere.
Interviews with strikers in The Times suggest that they have a "take it or leave it" attitude to public opinion.
They need to be very aware of the long-term effect their actions are having on the country as a whole. What use would any sort of victory be if there is no economy to speak of?
Tourists have a huge amount of choice and can "take or leave" a visit to Malta. As a family we'll leave it, thanks, and I know we are not alone.
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J Martinelli
Jul 18th 2008, 18:16
Mr. Bates should be advised that the strike is settled.
Nobody gave in to the thugs.
The Transport Federation has totally accepted what the government had in mind anyway, so they cannot claim victory. The government has not caved in to the strikers' intimidation.
Although there were a few incidents of violence, the Police were judicious enough not to let things escalate and their (in) action was a judgement call which proved to be the right one.
If Mr. Bates doesn't "know enough about Maltese life to know if the reasons for striking are reasonable or not". then his judgement is a hasty one.
It is unfortunate for Mr. Bates and his family to have been inconvenienced during one of their holidays in Malta and especially since they were unable to spend their money in Valletta and elsewhere but since they were staying in a great hotel, they were able to relax that extra bit .
Mr. Bates must have been greatly impressed by a thug's, "take it or leave it" attitude but he failed to consider the source.
Mr. Bates 'leave it attitude' is as negative as the reported quote in The Times. I hope the Bates will reconsider.
Michael Debono
Jul 18th 2008, 16:50
The owners of hearses that provoked the stoppage of public transport were not much bothered. Their daily income was not lost but frozen for a couple of days. They had nothing to lose. As soon as they started working they pocketed their due.
Is the transport of corpses sanctioned by any law that they could only be taken to the cemetery
by a normal hearse?
Could not a van or any other vehicle appropriately decorated for the occasion be used for that purpose?
These questions are pertinent for the reasons explained hereunder.
As the situation developed the hearse owners had their mind at rest. They were not going to lose anything. What they refrained or refused to do on certain days they were certain that they will pocket the money one day or another once they have the monopoly(sic) for the transfer of corpses. The authorities saw to it. And they have been compensated by a quarter of a million Euros of our money.
apgrech
Jul 18th 2008, 15:01
Mr Bates, methinks you're blowing things out of proportion.
a.camilleri
Jul 18th 2008, 12:05
to micheal degiorgio,
i rememebr the times you are talking about, i was living in the UK then, but what you dont mention is what happened after, she made sure it did not happen again and shut all the mines, and she even shut mr. scargils mouth, the miners had to look for other jobs with less more money thus changing their lifestyle,as it happened it was during the labour goverment that the strikes where out of control, mrs Thatcher took over and sorted it all out her way, thus getting the nickname the iron lady
mary Pace
Jul 18th 2008, 11:38
THEN i am not coming to uk anymore,because of the 7/11,
Michael Degiorgio
Jul 18th 2008, 10:56
I suppose Mr and Mrs Bates were in Malta during the Thatcher period strikes where riots and blackouts were the rule of the day, or during the French lorry strikes blocking all of Europe, shall I go on?
A. Camilleri
Jul 18th 2008, 10:29
Show this to the Federation which co-ordinated the strike action. When will we ever learn?! Malta stands to lose so much with the disgraceful scenes these last days, and this thanks to the white taxi drivers, bus drivers and mini bus drivers, all of which are fully responsible. We shall avoid using such services in future as much as possible. We do not want such thugs around, please. Let's us all progress, in peace!