Arriva is expected to sack the “vast majority” of the 180 bus drivers who did not report for duty last week, a company spokesman said yesterday. Some dismissals have already been made.
The no-shows, combined with a number of buses breaking down and problems with the computer system, led to a chaotic launch of the new service that had been billed as a revolution for Maltese public transport.
The company’s HR department is now contacting the drivers who did not show up “to confirm each person’s position”.
A small number had contacted the company before their first day of work to tell them they would not go through with their contract. However, many others simply chose not to show up.
“We have managed to get through to some who did not turn up and some have told us they don’t want to work for us, and they’ve been dismissed,” the spokesman said.
He added the company was ready to hear out the drivers who still wanted to work for Arriva and had valid reasons for not coming in but those who had not such reason would also be dismissed.
An “outstanding” number of drivers had not been reached and they could not be formally fired until the company heard them out. “I expect the vast majority to be dismissed,” the spokesman said.
The company also distanced itself from the comments of the Transport Ministry’s Head of Secretariat Emanuel Delia who suggested that the no-shows may have been planned sabotage by drivers from the former regime.
‘Small’ improvement in service
The spokesman said the company would stick to stating the facts.
Arriva also said yesterday that it would be a “matter of days” before the service started operating as planned and meeting requirements laid down in its contract with the government, though no specific date was given.
“There’s been some confusion after the press conference where (Arriva CEO) David Martin said it would take ‘months and months’ but that was an answer to a question on when the routes would be sorted, when the routes would be perfect and when it would reach Arriva’s international standards,” the spokesman said.
“In terms of getting the good service out there and meeting the contract requirements, that will be a lot quicker, a matter of days rather than anything else.
“We can see why the public is so angry but we aren’t just going to go away and cry about this and get upset, we’re out there fighting, doing everything we can.”
Meanwhile, staff from Arriva’s IT supplier Thetis is “working round the clock” to fix the problems with the buses’ electronic indicators which are meant to show their routes.
Most of the troubleshooting is being done remotely but the bus hardware will have to be updated overnight at the depots – which “could be done in one night”.
The company could not say specifically when the indicators would be operational, meaning sheets of paper showing route numbers will have to do for now.
The company said the service yesterday had a “small but noticeable improvement” and that it was trying to address the driver shortages and tweaking schedules.
“We think there are small changes which will have big impact, as small problems are compounding to create bigger ones,” the spokesman said.
One such problem is in Sliema, where residents have complained that large buses passing through the older parts of the town are causing traffic jams.