Transport Federation warns of new strike if agreement is not respected

J Martinelli

Oct 9th 2008, 18:55

Sack the whole miserable lot.

You cannot discuss anything with the Federation and its members. They will not listen let alone understand that biting the hand that feeds you will put you on the bread line fast.

A threat of another strike should be matched with a promise of giving the Police and the AFM with full authority to use all the force necessary to keep law and order and prevent road blocks. Any vehicle which is used to prevent the free flow of traffic should be impounded and scrapped. Most of the buses are a heap of scrap anyway.

T DeGiorgio

Oct 9th 2008, 18:00

oo great!! Carnival is coming early again!! let them strike.... i arrived at work much more earlier when they did actually strike... and i could drive with the window open since the black clouds where missing!!

Mrs Joyce DEGUARA

Oct 9th 2008, 11:23

I agree whole heartedly with A. Magri & Mizzi. they have got it right. I recently visited Malta (holiday) with family and we were appalled with the conditions, bus fare payers/the public having to put up with, the many buses which were out dated,dirty were stuffy & hot ,windows couldn't be opened. the conditions were a nightmare when buses took on too many passengers at a time and very sad to say not many gentleman stood up for the elderly, We found the school children , very inconsiderate both in this area and when boarding the buses. These buses are not road worthy,and the paying public deserve better,even if it means a small rise in the cost of fares,with benefits offered for those who use the bus as their transport daily(concessions,perhaps for pensioners)

R Gatt

Oct 8th 2008, 21:57

Is there still someone out there that thinks that, MOST Not, All Buses are still using Cocktail CHEAP Fuel Blends in their Buses!!!???

When are we going to see spot checks from ADT performing real CHECKS fromTailpipes of the buses to verify the emissions, and increasing the rate of CANCER in Malta!???

Is there anybody who has the GUTS to start, MInister please!!!!

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Oct 8th 2008, 20:44

A letter I had planned to write to The Times of Malta never made it to print since I thought that at that moment it would be wiser to wait and see what results will be gained and if the Federation had changed tack and realised the need for change. But alas!! I was wrong!!

So here it is! September 2nd 2008--Bugibba ,an unbearably hot day, I waited for the 70/645/652 bus for one whole hour in the heat of the afternoon sweating like a sick pig!!! Got to work twenty minutes late swearing my head off and and vowing to share this 'experience' in the middle of the tourist season, in a locality of over 40,000 residents (in Summer) with the esteemed readers of The Times!!

The next day I went on the same route and gave the bus driver 2 euros to which he groaned (as they always do) and said that he didn't have change....there you go..voila!!! An increase of 4cents to a rude driver for giving me shoddy service!!!!!!!!!

Josephine Cassar

Oct 8th 2008, 19:07

Was 23,000 or 230,000EUR not enough? I hope the Govt will be firmer this time round, no more hand-outs or king of the roads or sick leave by police or Army. We want a complete change of taxi service which is the dearest in Europe, so tourists are boarding public buses so as not to pay their hefty prices and crowding buses with luggage besides giving Malta a bad nameThough we do not want Mintoff`s beligerent ways any more, we want the govt to stand firm. they cannot be allowed to go to Castille or hold the whole country to ransom like last time. Will GRTU speak out this time about loss of revenue due to action taken by them?

Daniel Russell

Oct 8th 2008, 16:55

This was in my local paper, the Wolverhampton Express and Star today --- What should be happening in Malta too.

£5.4 m new buses hit region’s roads
A striking fleet of 27 new buses that transport chiefs say they will “revolutionise” travel on Black Country routes was launched today.

The Diamond bus company and West Midlands passenger transport authority Centro have pledged to make a series of improvements on a number of key bus routes as part of a £5.4 million investment.

They will give passengers more frequent, cleaner, state-of-the-art services.

The new Black Diamond buses, painted in a black, red and silver livery, boast “friendly, helpful drivers” according to the firm, who will help passengers travel to their destination in luxury.

The vehicles have Euro 5 standard engines, the most environmentally friendly available.

Thousands of leaflets with a voucher giving holders a week’s free trial of the new services have been distributed. As part of the changes Centro is also upgrading a number of stops and shelters which serve the new buses, so that passengers can wait in comfort until their service arrives. The shelters will be fitted with solar powered lighting where possible.

G. Curmi

Oct 8th 2008, 16:17

Yet another attempt at blackmail by the "Transport Federation". Enough is enough. Revoke their licenses to operate, and commandeer their "buses", most of which are nothing more than a source of cancer-causing emissions driven by inconsiderate and rude drivers.

The government should then procure new buses that are not decrepit death traps, and establish a true publicly-owned public transportation system; one where there are no owner-operators but employees of the system.

Public transportation in Malta is one of a kind. It is an anomaly - a privately-owned public transportation system. Malta is tired of being held hostage by these people. It is long past due for the government to act firmly and settle this matter once and for all. Away with them.

Joseph Piccinino

Oct 8th 2008, 14:09

So ! The King of the road has spoken again !. We thank his Majesty on informing us what he and his knights in shining yellow armour have in mind., We are much exited and to help. May we, lowly subjects be so bold as to suggest to the Government that a small tax be levied for the purchase of burgers, sausages and chips (don' t forget the beer) and BBQ equipment to be distributed to the knights during their proposed holidays. Ideas from the Malta tourism authority would come in usefull too. How about Ta' Qali ?? A handy and spacous car park. Great place for an open air festa, a football match, bus racing, antiques show, a karaoke, long walks etc. This time we hope to do our utmost to organize ourselves and help them take a much longer rest. It is sad that again we will miss the chaos, smoke, the wonderfull music of the horns and richness of their fuel mxtures on the roads.We can always let off some fireworks as part of the holiday fun, preferably well after midnight, otherwise it would be too legal and spoil the fun .

Ray Gatt

Oct 8th 2008, 12:30

Last Monday I got to work late cause the 07.45 bus to Valletta never appeared, which meant that I had to wait for the 08.05 no. 245 bus.
Yesterday, the no. 45 (07.45) bus from Mellieha to Valletta left at 07.53 since it was already past quarter to that the driver decided to let commuters on the bus and then obviously we still had to buy the tickets. This when the bus was already there but all the drivers felt like having a conversation on this same bus, despacher included.
This morning no. 145 (07.45) bus to Valletta left late again and the driver had already smoked 3 cigarettes by the time I alighted at Mosta. But that's OK as long as the bus is full of no smoking warnings. At St. Paul's bay, one of these young inspectors who seem more like school children, approached the driver, me thinking he would give the driver a telling off. But how wrong I was, he only wanted a fag. These people are giving us a bad name with foreigners. They are a hazard in every imaginable respect. Pity about the very small minority of decent ones amongst them.

Maruska Agius

Oct 8th 2008, 11:43

I cannot agree with another strike cause I still depend on public transport to move around but dear Austin... when you will start sending your paycheck to me, I will definately prefer to take a taxi than a bus to the office!!!

J.Debono

Oct 8th 2008, 10:19

While I don't agree with the transport federation and the strike, I cannot read more about the pollution that the buses cause when we have cars and trucks that are on the streets making more pollution than the buses.

Romeo Busuttil

Oct 8th 2008, 09:14

I thank you Mr Spiteri and the transport federation as this is great news for our lungs. I urge you to stay on strike as long as possible as probably thanks to your help by the end of the year Malta will officially be the least polluted country in the EU. May I also suggest that you invite all the public transport users to your great BBQ and do a presentation to them on the facts and why you are striking (that might be a little difficult to explain though!!) so at the same time you will also compensate your customers with burgers and sausages against the loss of transport. The EU will also not complain again that Malta does not have a pollution free day!!!.....LOL

david noel spiteri

Oct 7th 2008, 22:42

This is what abdication of the rule of law leads to. The summer srike saw a takeover of the roads by the transport federation members. Rather than bulldozing the roads to open them to legitimate drivers, as would happen in other civilised and democratic countries -, we had a rampage of bullying and intimidation for 2 full days by the members of the transport federation.

And the Commissioner of Police gets praised by the Justice Minister whilst innocent bystanders are threatened and some beaten.

Pathetic. And here we are again. Our Govenrment is spineless: it seeks to square the circle but for obvious reasons it always fails to do so,

So the story goes on... another strike, more praise to the Commissioner of Police (who no doubt his latitude of action is constrained by political direction), and the inevitable spineless action to resolve this matter conclusively.

On my part - the next strike: I will sue the Government for the loss of business, road rage, the far of intimidation et al. It is Government that failed to conclusively resolve the matter when everybody was behind it. This time round, I for one will not be there.

adrian galea

Oct 7th 2008, 21:46

with all due respect the Transport Federation needs to be told where to go...and not by a ministry ..but by their customers and all others who potentially couldbe customers but wouldn't trust the system to serve them.
they forget that their primary concern is their customers. I have seen very little initiative taken by this federation and by the member it serves over the years. Any other business would do its utmost to attract more customer base and improve its product. In the 38 years of my life, i have seen precious little of this from this sector. It remains an anachronism.
The people need to come out and vote with their feet. A boycott of this service would push them all out of business, and let it start afresh with hopefully a better attitude.
This bullying attitude comes on top of violence and aggressive behaviour, but it seems nothing would shame these people.
it just beggars believe...this federation is the same one which came out with an outcry of foul when obviously polluting buses were to be submitted to more vigorous testing. tanymore more to be said?
customers first federation? ..apologies for my rant!

Josef Grech

Oct 7th 2008, 21:35

Now, I would like to question, given the fact that the general public wants this blessed radical change in Public Transport to take place who is going to pay for it? Being it a foreign or a local Operator to run the services, being it nationalised and run by the Government, I hope that we all understand that we will all have to contribute to it, as whatever organisation runs it will be doing so in order to generate profits.
In my opinion a radical change would be to start giving Maltese people what they really deserve and which has been lacking for ages. This is no Smart City here were everything is to start from new. Here we are talking about peoples’ lives, which have invested all their energies, earned a living, brought up their families, raised their kids and grown old in delivering such services to the Maltese public in an environment dictated by the Government with all the uncertainty that this brought about for a long period of time without any incentive to progress.

Josef Grech

Oct 7th 2008, 21:34

My personal conviction as a Transport Operator is that the strike was totally out of place being it undertaken for the wrong reasons. We failed and are still failing in tackling the real problems which surround this sector. Actually I don’t see any reason why the Federation is not presenting the general public such problems which have been accumulating for decades and which encumbered progress in the sector.
First and foremost, the main problem is that all past administrators held control on public transport fares. I believe that this was always used as a tool to keep the cost of living down and led the Government to start subsidising passengers who travelled by bus. Unfortunately, Operators did not foresee that this would be used by Authorities as a weapon against the Operators themselves! Proof of this is the fact that in order to have part of our fleet of buses replaced, the government had to intervene given that no provision for replacement of rolling stock was ever considered when calculating the yearly income per bus. Unfortunately this is still the present situation.

Edwin Formosa

Oct 7th 2008, 20:26

Nobody seems to be happy lately . I wonder why ???????????????? Maybe because we have a new party leader equally negative like his predecessor with the same achievement prospects.

Robert Scullion

Oct 7th 2008, 20:01

@ David Bailey
A 5 minute, 3 stops bus ride in Dublin, Ireland will set you back around Eur 4.

Not sure what bus your talking about since Dublin Bus have a set fare structure. If you paid €4 for a 5 min bus ride, then you got ripped off. My bus jounrey takes 30mins and only costs €1.70. http://www.dublinbus.ie/fares_and_tickets/fares.asp

Martin galea

Oct 7th 2008, 17:53

Bummer. I'm really annoyed with these people. Why is it that they only strike when I'm abroad?? I never get to enjoy the clear streets. Could you please have the strike in November? Pretty please? I suggest that in the meantime, the government buys a few bulldozers, or hire them from a number of individuals (I'm sure people would line up to hand over the bulldozers, probably for free, in fact they would probably PAY the government, more if they actually get to drive them themselves), and the minute the transport employees go on strike, push the transport vehicles straight into the nearest recycling plant So go on, make my day (and everybody else's), and go on strike.

Nigel Lawrence

Oct 7th 2008, 15:12

Another strike? Promises, promises!

Antoine Grima

Oct 7th 2008, 14:31

Nobody seems to be happy lately . I wonder why ????????????????

elaine mizzi

Oct 7th 2008, 14:23

NO ONE has a problem with your striking! As many have said before me we will just be glad to have a pollution free day/days...

Every other business has competition and we all have to work hard to make a living... why do you transport people expect to be treated better than the rest of us? Because you make the biggest pollution contribution? Because you create havoc on the roads by driving in the worst possible way? Because you overcharge? and most of the time don't issue receipts...?

Go ahead and strike have your bbqs or whatever GIVE US A BREAK!... if you couldn't afford it you wouldn't strike! so you mustn't be all THAT "poor you(s)" after all!

all the rest of us ask and DESERVE is for the authorities to make this JUST & FAIR! if they are parked in the middle of the road FINE THEM! if they block roundabouts FINE THEM! and mostly... and this is for everyday not for the strike days only... FINE THEM FOR POLLUTING! ...the same way the rest of us get fined!

P Agius

Oct 7th 2008, 13:40

The transport federation should have done this market review long time ago. However by market review I mean a FULL market review and not on the external factor only. They should review the internal factors effecting the market too. To begin with they should analyse the competencies of their own people and their potential to attract more customers. With the kind of behaviour most of them shown. the federation needs to work very hard to be able to have a decent service suitable for both Maltese and Tourists. Furthermore they should also review the legal and ethical matters of this operation. Are the charges based on meters distance? Are the fares per km preadviced to customers? Is an adequate receipt provided to the customer like other countries do? Finally, the federation should look into the customer care provided for this service. How are the operators handling non-English speaking customers (not to mention the English speaking themselves)? How dot hey handle complains? What is the dress code (with the shirt open or closed)?

These are only a few hints for your market review Mr Spiteri. The fact that you didn't do this may show something on your managment skills!

J Farrugia

Oct 7th 2008, 13:18

Christine Galea is partially correct. A tender had been issued for the provision of shuttle services from Blata l-Bajda to Valletta. Has this new tender been awarded? We do not want the Coop again, otherwise it will strike again. Can someone enlighten us citizens if this tender has been awarded or not? And to whom it was awarded. I hope not to Coop again. Today's drivers are different from the original ones and hence more arrogant than ever. Can someone responsible answer us about this?

John Falzon

Oct 7th 2008, 12:54

In my opinion the whole transportation area needs review.

What about tackling also the sharp increase in the cost of school transport (mini-vans) ? In our case, fees for one term have gone up from Lm 40 (last year) to Lm 60 now, i.e. an increase of 33%. And that's just for one child.

Roll on the day we have a fully competitive playing field here in Malta !

C.Camilleri

Oct 7th 2008, 12:54

I bet that if they strike, more then half of them will not take part! I am no PN supporter, but, on this I am all in favour of what is being proposed by Austin Gatt. However, I suggest that the Govt. is to take action now, well before the strike. If they stay in their Garages etc. then let them strike, but, if Malta is to go through what it went through during the last strike, then ACT now.

Buses? I have no means of transport, but even these need looking after, they, the TF, should not rule our Country.

Christian Abdilla

Oct 7th 2008, 12:51

another bus strike huh ? Where will the evening bbq be held this time dear Mr Spiteri ? Last time it was in St James Ditch - you need to plan for bad weather this time so make sure you choose a nice cosy place where to cook your burgers and sausages...

Christine Galea

Oct 7th 2008, 12:38

If I remember correctly during last July's strike, the Minister had revoked the contract of the Co-op for the park and ride since they stopped the service without being part of the dispute.
Last Saturday when we used the park and ride system I was amazed to find the Co-op providing the service of the park and ride. The Minister did not keep his promise to us the law abiding citizens!! The Maltese proverb - "Kelb jinbah ma jigdiemx!!" really suits the situation. Now they know that if they once again create havoc, no long term action will be taken against them, they can get away with murder.

J Farrugia

Oct 7th 2008, 12:27

Tell the federation that the 700 taxis which will operate in Malta in the future should not charge more than 2 euros (TWO EUROS) for a ride from Valletta to any place in Malta. Unless this is done, they can hand over their tags and go registering for new type of work. Enough of this. Strike whenever you want. We don't need you. Next time you strike we will be ready for you if you think that you can replay your dirty tactics.

l Galea

Oct 7th 2008, 12:24

Gloria in excelsis Deo, another pollution-free day(s)

David Martinelli

Oct 7th 2008, 12:04

Well said Joseph Briffa,
I couldn't agree with you more. The country should not be held hostage because of the public transports declining patronage and revenues not being generated. I would have to agree that perhaps it might be time for some drivers to consider a career change, but there should be some kind of training assistance given to drivers in the event they do leave the public transport completely.
In the event that there could be another strike, the country will continue to move on. You'll just see more vehicles on an already clogged arterie system.

john fenech

Oct 7th 2008, 12:02

Get your logic in the right order, if the market can only support 200 white taxies than if a call is issued to increase the number it will not be taken up! Do you seriously imagine that someone will invest in a loss making plan!

It seems that your argument is tied in a knot; first the market could not support more taxies then a conjecture of a hypothetical fare to support a non existing argument!

Fares are established against some form of standard, for instance like distance travelled for a night or day journey. For sure most of the taxies charge against the standard of maximum gain for minimum work.

So if you feel like plunging into another adventure go ahead, but this time around the authorities are forewarned and forearmed. Probably this time around you will beg the public to forgive you for any inconvenience that your actions will cause and promise that after the strike the taxies will give free lifts until the end of 2008!

David Bailey

Oct 7th 2008, 11:51

Everyone complains about our public transport system, and the complaints are certainly merited. But is everyone willing to start paying more for a better service? There is no way that we can maintain the current prices if the sector is liberalized. To give some examples, a 2 minute, 2 stop bus ride in Spain costs Eur 1.25. A 5 minute, 3 stops bus ride in Dublin, Ireland will set you back around Eur 4. But the bus shelters have electronic boards indicating the time of arrival of the next buses, and it works like clockwork. It's a much better service for an obviously much higher price.

Sandro Zahra

Oct 7th 2008, 11:48

if the federation wants to strike again they are free to do it but without breaking the laws (eg blocking roads etc). If they are capable to strike properly they will be more than welcomed!!

E. Azzopardi

Oct 7th 2008, 11:42

I said this twice before. Was that strike for nothing? Was the damage done to Malta, the country we all belong to and live in, for nothing. It seems so. Now, after this threat, the liberalization of transport becomes top priority. And do not forgeet those emissions, please, because apparently nothing is being done. The buses are still fuming. And cut that crap of 2550 or 3000 revs please. You see, I have said please all the time. I have been polite you see.

Joe Pace

Oct 7th 2008, 11:31

What do they want now? Where is their level of service? Perhaps they can explain why it took me 60 minutes on Saturday evening to get from Bir-id-deheb to Valletta when it takes 55 minutes to get from Pisa to Florence!!

malcolm seychell

Oct 7th 2008, 11:27

Get the Italians to do their job, while they strike.

We need a free market in this sector and at least drivers with some basic education.

A.Magri

Oct 7th 2008, 11:24

The current situation where a taxi (any taxi) issues a fare depending on the number of people boarding and viability of the journey has to stop. All taxis need to have meters installed without further ado.

I was once asked for Lm6 to take 3 people from St.Andrews to Paceville, a 3 minute ride, but since it was right after the Aussie Floyd concert, the driver thought it was a fair price.

I cannot understand how taxis should be exempt from competition when any other business has its market saturated. Those drivers who want more customers should start off by dressing well and showing some manners on and off the road.

Public sympathy towards anything that has to do with public transport is destined to remain low until someone with enough firepower turns things around, so another strike is surely a shot in the Federation's foot.

C Chircop

Oct 7th 2008, 11:17

You may strike again, however the closing of roads and inhibiting commuters to go to their place of work will certainly not be tolerated.

If this happens, businesses should take the Federation to court for damages in loss of business.

Joe Stivala

Oct 7th 2008, 11:14

I don't blame them. You never know which way you're going with the honourable AG.

A. Saiba

Oct 7th 2008, 11:08

"What the ministry had failed to mention, the federation said, was that during winter, there was not even enough business for the 200 white taxis."

The only reason there isn't enough business for taxis is because they're expensive as hell.

"Yet, had he been at City Gate after 10 p.m. last Saturday, during notte bianca, he could hear the people complain about the special bus fare of €1.16. So how could they be expected to pay €5 or €10 to take a taxi to work?"

Can we really compare a bus ride to a taxi ride? Buses are uncomfortable, noisy, they stop every couple of minutes to drop people off, and it takes ages for one to arrive to his or her destination. So yes, €1.16 for a bus fare is expensive. €5 for a taxi is not, although I doubt anyone would be willing to pay that amount on a daily basis to go to work.

K Mifsud

Oct 7th 2008, 11:05

Liberalisation does not mean increasing quotas from 200 to 700. It means removing the quota limit altogether. Anybody fulfilling objective and non-discriminatory criteria (e.g. related to health and safety, quality of service etc.) should be allowed a license, irrespective of number.

The market will support however many taxi drivers it will support, that is a matter for market forces in a liberalised market, and not for communist-style quota restrictions which lead to bad service and cartelisation. The public does not want a small cartel turned into a bigger cartel – it wants full liberalisation, including no restrictions on the number of licenses.

It is absurd how such cornering of markets is still allowed, to the detriment of the economy and consumers, even when it has been expressly prohibited by Maltese law, namely article 5 of the Competition Act (concerning cartelisation), since 2002, and by European law, notably articles 81 (cartelisation) and 86 (special or exclusive rights limiting access to a market) of the EC Treaty, since 2004. All of this is patently illegal, but our competition authority is not independent and is asleep at the wheel. Stop this nonsense and enforce competition law!

Daniel Cassar

Oct 7th 2008, 11:05

Some people never learn...public transport drivers are some of them!

We taxpayers want liberalisation and this is what Minister Gatt is promising. I hope he'll stick to his guns to act accordingly.

I sincerely can't understand what the hell do they think they are. I quote,
"“The federation warns the minister that if he does not wish to see public transport paralysed again, he should respect what was agreed”....no words to add!

C. Schembri

Oct 7th 2008, 11:04

Transport Federation:

If these "hero" white taxi drivers want us Maltese to use their service, they should decrease their lucrative profit, by reducing the pocket-whopping fares. And don't come to compare a bus fare of €1.16 to taxi service. I, for one, would not complain that taxi fares are priced between €5-€10, as I would have a decent and comfortable ride (hopefully not a deathride, coz of their over speeding).

I'm prepared for the eventful strike,... and by all means, I will (like most other Maltese) see that I keep NOT using any services capped under the Federation!

Let the games begin!

Daniel Russell

Oct 7th 2008, 10:49

Talk about holding the Government of Malta over a barrel, threatening more strike action!

Market liberalisation does not lead to cheaper prices, look at the UK energy market at the moment. The growth of compettition and private businesses in place of a state owned utility has seen the cost of electricity and gas to consumers increase to record levels.

Why don't the transport federation work WITH the government and both parties look to bring about the development of a safe, sustainable and affordable public transport system for Malta what its people deserve.

If they do go on strike, send the Army in and stop the situation we saw last time

Joseph Cauchi

Oct 7th 2008, 10:44

Here we go again!

When is the public going to say stop to all this bullying and threats from this Transport Federation?

Malta needs an efficient transport service and the Government should do all it takes to achieve this aim. We cannot continue to be treated in such manners.

Our transport service resembles that of a third world African country, and if Malta is to keep up pace with our EU partners, this service must definitly improve ! ! !

Mr. Victor Spiteri, is unfortunately living in another era and he hasn't yet realised that Malta has changed, and that the threats of strikes and demonstrations are no longer effective and they are PASSE (with an acute accent on the "E").

Results are achieved through negotiations, and negotiations are held around a table.

The people are tired of these tactics. We are in 2008 and not in 1978 ! ! !

Let us have a transport service that we the citizens of these islands truly deserve !

.

Joseph E Briffa

Oct 7th 2008, 10:43

If the Fed thinks that a bus strike brings the country to a standstill, they are mistaken. If they want to strike let them strike but don't let them break the law. People have shown that they could do without buses . If bus owners were really losing money then they should pack up, but they must be making a profit otherwise they would pack up. They are not the mugs they look. If the Transport Fed thinks they could hold the country to ransom they are terribly mistaken; they can be a nuisance if they are allowed to indulge in illegal activities during a strike, but that's about all. The Fed knows that the public doesn't support them. they have been having it good for decades. It's about time they realise this and start acting responsibly. As for the white taxis, if all the drivers were to start using the meters like they do in other parts of Europe and the US, and stop charging exorbitant fares and be civilised to their clients - some of them do, mind you - they will have more clients. And they should be on the move not stuck in their parking lots.

Charles Micallef

Oct 7th 2008, 10:35

Oh no ! not another transport strike, no smoking buses, no white taxis overtaking on street corners, how are we going to cope?

On second thoughts, bring it on, and let us have some civility on our roads!

JC Mifsud

Oct 7th 2008, 10:25

You can do how many strikes you want, at least we will have another free pollution day and less traffic.

A. Vassallo

Oct 7th 2008, 10:20

This is yet another attempt and a clear sign that the transport federation wants to keep the cartel that they have managed to control over all these years.

We want European Union standards in all our types of public transport, be it buses, be it taxis (whatever colour), be it mini-buses (whatever colour), be it horse cabs, be it hearses. Let them know that we just want DECENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT

.

frank muscat

Oct 7th 2008, 10:20

Another promise not kept . Ido not agree with transport strikes but can Dr Gonzi show us some leadership skills instead of staying there and letting Austin play his role .

Chris Finch

Oct 7th 2008, 10:13

The roads were better off without them last time. If they strike, revoke all their licenses and offer them to people who will give a good service, we have seen no improvement from these arrogant cowboys.
The introduction of electric vehicles is a positive step that needs to be implemented asap.
We are all behind you Austin!