The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin has condemned Malta Public Transport for issuing warning letters to bus drivers who took part in a strike last week.

The union said that a number of workers were given a written warning after they obeyed the union and took part in an industrial action. The UĦM said this was illegal.

Union president Jesmond Bonello wrote to the head of human resources and warned there would be an industrial action if these letters were not withdrawn.

He made it clear that the union would not accept any of its members being threatened or faced with disciplinary action because they had been issued a legitimate directive.

The UĦM informed the Malta Transport Authority that it had registered another industrial dispute and was not excluding further industrial action. The union called a two-hour strike last week to press its claim for recognition by Malta Public Transport.

The company currently recognises the General Workers Union as that representing the majority of its workers. It is demanding a verification exercise, which the company says it cannot undertake as it is constrained by a court order issued on a request from the GWU.