(Adds Arriva's statement)
An agreement has been reached between the General Workers' Union and Arriva on the bus drivers new shift.
Bus drivers had been mulling not turning up for work on Sunday, the first day of operations of the brand new public transport service.
Their complaint was over the roster issued this week, which has shifts starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.
In a statement this evening, the GWU said that the company agreed to pay the workers €35 compensation for each day they worked on a split shift.
The company agreed to draw up a new roster, which would come into effect on July 17.
It also agreed drivers should not work more than one day a week on a split shift system and that at least a third of drivers on each work schedule would work until 4 p.m.
It was also agreed that at least a third of drivers on each work schedule would start work at 1 p.m.
The meeting lasted eight hours.
ARRIVA'S STATEMENT
In a separate statement, Arriva managing director Keith Bastow said that while the company’s planned rosters were fully compliant with legal requirements, employee and Transport Malta contracts, they were considered to be of a temporary nature, with the intention of being revised in the coming weeks.
“We acknowledge the feedback raised by the General Workers’ Union in respect of long split shifts, which consist of two driving periods with a long period of off duty/free time between them.
“Following the discussions, our plans to revise the shift patterns have been brought forward to the end of July.”
He said:
“We understand from the union representatives that the changes we intend to introduce, accommodate and satisfy in full the complaints of their members.
“We have also informed the union that we intend to suitably compensate employees who will work split shifts during the month of July.”
Arriva said it did not consider that it was in any way in dispute with its employees or anyone representing them and it was not, therefore, notified of any industrial action in terms of law, and all employees were expected to report for duty as rostered.
“Most of our employees have been very recently recruited and therefore formal recognition of a trade union has not yet been entered into.
“We do however recognise that a considerable number of employees are members of the General Workers’ Union and are grateful for the union’s contribution to the present discussion.
“Our employees have already demonstrated a high level of commitment during their training with us and like me are looking forward to Sunday morning and the start of our new service to the public,” he said.