Bus drivers have been ordered to strike this evening. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Public transport workers have been ordered by the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin to stage a two-hour strike this evening.

The industrial action will take place between 6pm and 8pm in a dispute over union recognition.

While the UĦM claims it represents the majority of workers at Malta Public Transport Services – and has been calling for a verification process for months – the General Workers’ Union claims otherwise. It is still the union recognised by the Spanish company now running the bus service.

The company yesterday warned the action would be illegal and that disciplinary action would be taken against workers who abandon their posts.

It said the UĦM was well aware that no verification process could take place because the courts had issued an injunction following a request filed by the GWU.

The UĦM’s demand for a verification process was a demand to act in contempt of a court order specifically prohibiting it.

The company warned its employees that participation in the industrial action would constitute an unauthorised abandonment of duties and gross misconduct that would result in automatic deductions from pay and disciplinary action.

The UĦM said that it had been waiting for the company to conduct a verification exercise for months and was defending the employees’ right to choose the trade union that would represent them.

The Transport Ministry condemned the UĦM’s directive, saying it would lead to unnecessary disruption in the bus service.

It said the court had already indicated a way forward on the union recognition impasse and the action would disrupt public transport, which was an essential service.

Meanwhile, the GWU yesterday said it had managed to secure better conditions for drivers at the bus company following negotiations.

It added that it was ready to start negotiating a new collective agreement for all employees and secure better working conditions.