The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin last night temporary lifted directives issued to bus drivers in view of a meeting with Transport Minister Joe Mizzi today.

In a statement issued just before 9pm, the union said it had decided to suspend the industrial action “as a sign of goodwill”.

Earlier in the day, it had called a press conference to show journalists what it described as “proof” that it represented the majority of bus drivers.

According to correspondence and other documents to which the media was given full access, about 400 of the 670 bus drivers were enrolled with the UĦM.

The company running the bus service is refusing to ask the director of employment to carry out the necessary verifications to determine which union represents the majority of bus drivers. The General Workers’ Union, which enjoys recognition as representing the majority of the company’s total workforce, has been insisting all along that such verification can easily be carried out by checking the number of those whose membership fee is deducted from their salary.

UĦM secretary general Josef Vella briefed the media on the second day of strikes spread over the morning and afternoon rush hours.

The company is saying that the service is running normally.

The union complained that its members were reluctant to join the strike as they were being threatened with losing their job.

Mr Vella claimed that during a meeting on Monday with the Transport Minister it transpired that there were huge discrepancies in the number of employees that were paid members of the UĦM. He said that for some reason at least 100 paid members of the union were not listed in the company’s records.

Mr Vella produced letters sent by the union notifying the bus service company that a number of employees were asking for their membership fee to be deducted from their salary. However, he said, there were several instances when such employees had not been registered as UĦM members by the company.

Mr Vella lashed out at the GWU saying it was piling pressure on the company to avoid carrying out the verification exercise.

He reiterated that his union was ready to accept the verdict of a verification exercise even if it had to be carried out by a ballot among bus drivers.

Earlier, the GWU warned that it would take all necessary action to safeguard its position as the recognised union. It claimed that not more than 18 employees had been on strike yesterday between 7am and 9am and remarked that while the dispute was unfolding it was discussing the working conditions of its members as the new bus service operators would be announced soon.