Updated: Arriva workers form house union - 100 resign from GWU

Updated - Adds GWU reaction

A group of 170 Arriva workers has formed a house union, with 100 resigning from the GWU.

The Public Transport Union, as the new union is called, said more resignations from the GWU are expected in the coming days.

It said its members had opted to form the house union because they disagreed with the way the GWU and particularly section secretary Charles Agius, had negotiated their collective agreement.

An absolute majority of the workers had rejected the proposed collective agreement, the new union said.

The bus company has close to 1,000 workers including some 700 drivers.

GWU STILL BIGGEST UNION

In a statement, the GWU said that despite a number of resignations, it remained the largest union grouping Arriva workers and it would therefore continue its talks for a collective agreement.

The GWU said some persons were trying to entice workers to leave the union by promising that the new union would bring about a 60% raise in their salary within a year of the collective agreement.

It said that as a responsible trade union, it could not make such irresponsible requests or promises, and workers should not be deceived.

It said a number of workers who had handed in resignation letters had already said they wished to rejoin the GWU.