Some buses are coming back to service this afternoon.Some buses are coming back to service this afternoon.

UPDATED WITH AGREEMENT ON STRIKE ISSUE

Agreement was reached this evening between the General Workers' Union and Malta Transport Services on the drivers' back issue, the main point which led to union to call a strike today.

The government said this evening agreement was reached on a 15-minute break during talks between the two parties with Transport Minister Joe Mizzi acting as mediator.

It said talks on other matters will continue in the coming days.

While less than a tenth of buses were operating this morning, a third of the buses were running this afternoon after the court ruled that a widespread strike was illegal.

The court decision dismissed claims made by the General Workers' Union that it had a right to bring the bus service to a complete standstill.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb told a news conference the union still had to seek legal advice on whether or not to abide by the court order.

He argued that the union had challenged the clause at the International Labour Organisation. But asked whether it would be challenging it in the Maltese courts, Mr Zarb did not commit himself.

Should a decision be taken for the union to provide half the service, the workers on duty would be given new directives, he said, describing the company's action as "a cowardly act".

The Civil Court provisionally upheld a request for the issuance of a prohibitory injunction and ordered the GWU and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin to immediately comply with the company's request to abide by the law which require that at least 50 per cent of the public transport services is to remain available notwithstanding any dispute.

This means that the unions and the employees are to permit that 50 per cent of the company's services resume immediately.

The bus operators said that the drivers acted on misleading and incorrect information provided to them by the union.

MPT said in a statement earlier today that notwithstanding that the union and the company agreed several months ago to give the employees special concessions in return for no industrial action during the negotiation of the collective agreement, the GWU forged ahead with the strike today.

It added it has always and will remain open to discussion but never under the threat of unexpected strikes such as was the case in these past days.

"It is irresponsible and uncharacteristic of any union to impose any point of the discussion by way of strike."

But Mr Zarb said that the company's proposal was that it would consider giving workers a 30-minute break in exchange of a lower financial package in the next collective agreement.

Asked if this was true, AMalta Public Transport general manager Konrad Pule said that the MPT's proposal had been taken out of context. He said the company was not refusing the union's request for a 30-minute break outright but it was unacceptable that it was asked to do this in 48 hours.

Julio Tironi, the transportation director of Autobus de Leon, which is the mother company of MPT said that the problem was not the break but that the GWU was continually shifting goal posts.

Asked whether the conditions being imposed on Maltese drivers were similar to those enjoyed by drivers in Spain, Mr Tironi kept insisting that the company was acting within EU laws

An all day bus strike went ahead this morning as the GWU and MPT traded accusations.

The union called for better working conditions for the drivers as the operator accused the union of shifting goalposts during talks.

The strike went ahead despite a last-ditch mediation attempt by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi yesterday evening.

The bus drivers this morning gathered in Floriana and walked to the bus terminus.

They were later joined at the terminus by GWU general secretary Tony Zarb who said drivers cannot be expected to work long hours without a break or with just a five-minute stop.

"We want to make it clear we are willing to meet and discuss issues but no one will stop us from taking action," he said, claiming that the company said one thing and did another.

Bus drivers in Floriana this morning.Bus drivers in Floriana this morning.

Today's strike has the support of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, which represents some of the workers.

A UHM representative said workers had to take their break in a container and there was only one toilet, which had to be shared among some 600 people. The water dispenser had been taken away in summer.

Drivers, who refused to be named in fear of losing their job, said that the new company had been given a bigger subsidy but the workers were worse off.

Mr Zarb assured drivers in the afternoon that if just one of them was sacked for obeying the union's directives, the union would take further action.

Fares were higher and they were embarrassed to charge people the ticket fares when their card did not work through no fault of their own.

They noted there were fewer cleaners to clean buses and there was nowhere where they could seek shelter in winter.

Readers this morning reported that a few buses were operating, but many people appeared to have opted for other forms of transport and not many were seen on bus stops. Traffic jams were reported in some areas but there have been no major reports of traffic tailbacks.

The service will resume tomorrow even if an agreement is not reached today. But the union said it may then order further industrial action.

Mr Zarb explained at a press conference yesterday that a 48-hour ultimatum for a conclusion of talks had expired, with the union having only received an "ambiguous" letter from the buses operator.

The union had demanded a minimum 30-minute break every six hours, better pay, a fixed day off and new shifts.  

The company said the new set of duty parameters it had proposed had been accepted by the union throughout four months of negotiations and were in line with all local and European labour laws and regulations.

However the union had presented fresh proposals which were a radical departure from the main parameters that had already been accepted. 48 hours were not enough for it to review them in detail and understand their implications. 

Idle buses in Marsa this morning- Photo by Valerie Schembri - mynews@timesofmalta.comIdle buses in Marsa this morning- Photo by Valerie Schembri - mynews@timesofmalta.com

Problem reflects minister's incompetence - PN

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the problem reflected Transport Minister Joe Mizzi’s incompetence.

In spite of the electoral promise to improve the system, the minister opted to throw the burden on others and drivers and users were suffering as a result.

It was unacceptable that workers had to make good for the mismanagement in the service.

It was also unacceptable that, as yet, not one knew the details of the contract Mr Mizzi had signed with the Spanish company included.

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