Talks between the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin and the new public transport operator, Arriva, over the working conditions of bus drivers are expected to start “soon”.

Over two-thirds of over 400 bus drivers who chose to work with the new operator joined the UĦM, transport section secretary Martin Caruana said.

According to an agreement reached between the government and Arriva last year, the drivers who chose to stay on were guaranteed employment through the term of the 10-year contract to be signed later this month.

A total of 405 bus drivers – 215 owner/drivers, 10 owners and 180 employed drivers – agreed to work with the new operator and abide by certain conditions, which include training.

Mr Caruana said when the agreement was reached, the union had been involved as a representative of drivers who were employed by the self-employed bus owners, who were themselves represented by the Public Transport Association. Over the past weeks these owners – who no longer remained self- employed – had joined the union and the UĦM was now also representing their interests, Mr Caruana explained. As a result, he said, the UĦM now represented the vast majority of bus drivers.