Barely a few days after Spanish company Autobuses de Leon took over local public transport services, it is already in hot water: the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin has objected to a meeting that was organised by Transport Malta to introduce the company to the General Workers’ Union.

The two unions are competing for ­recognition by the new bus company, both claiming they represent the majority of workers.

Times of Malta is informed the UĦM has objected formally to the meeting and asked Autobuses de Leon to hold a meeting with its own representatives as soon as possible.

Just a few days before the new service began, Transport Malta chairman James Piscopo organised a meeting between the company management and GWU officials.

A spokesman for the UĦM criticised Mr Piscopo’s behaviour, saying the UĦM and GWU were locked in a bid to claim recognition from the Industrial Tribunal.

“We couldn’t believe our eyes when we read in the newspaper that Mr Piscopo went out of his way to introduce Autobuses de Leon to the GWU, as if the latter had recognition,” a UĦM spokesman said. “This is an insult of the first order and shows a lack of professionalism on behalf of Mr Piscopo.”

In a letter to the company, UĦM section secretary for transport Martin Caruana said: “We are assuming that Transport Malta has brought to your attention the fact that our union is currently contesting the GWU’s claim to recognition as the employers’ union, since our records indicate that the majority of workers at Malta Public Transport are members of the UĦM and not the GWU.”

Malta Public Transport ran the buses before Autobuses de Leon took over earlier this month.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the end of the month during a sitting of the Industrial Tribunal.

The UĦM asked the Autobuses de Leon management to hold a meeting as soon a possible with the UĦM’s shop stewards and union representatives.

According to the UĦM spokesman, the issue had already been raised with Transport Minister Joe Mizzi.

“The minister told us to send him the details so that he could conduct a verification process. We told him that that was not his job but such an exercise should be conducted by the Labour Department.”

Since Minister Mizzi objected, the issue was taken to the Industrial Tribunal for a final decision, the spokesman said.

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