The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin will next week start doing a risk assessment on route buses and order its members not to drive vehicles that put passengers’ safety at risk.

Speaking after a two-hour meeting with bus drivers held yesterday from 6pm to 8pm – the period for which the union had called a strike – union president Jesmond Bonello said the meeting had been a success.

He said more than 200 people had attended, including some in uniform and some drivers from Gozo.

The union knew from complaints by passengers that the strike had affected the service.

However, the bus service company, Malta Public Transport, issued a statement saying public transport had not suffered any major disruptions and all routes had run.

A spokesman said the company thanked all employees for their commitment and support and for “offering their assistance to ensure that the bus service operates in full throughout the strike period”.

UĦM had called the strike to press its claim for recognition by Malta Public Transport, which recognises the General Workers Union as representative of the majority of workers.

UĦM is demanding that a verification exercise be conducted.

Malta Public Transport on Wednesday described the strike as illegal, since a court had issued a temporary injunction stopping the verification process.

But the UĦM insisted the strike was legal and accused the company of having threatened workers with disciplinary action if they attended the meeting.

In the meeting, the main issues raised by the drivers included long breaks and the lack of double pay on Sundays. These problems were the result of a former collective agreement with the GWU, Mr Bonello said.

There were also health and safety concerns including tyres with flat threads, which put them and passengers at risk.

UĦM will next week start to carry out a risk assessment on vehicles as well as drivers’ shelters. It also has an issue with the lack of toilet facilities for drivers.

It will order its members not to drive vehicles that put passenger safety at risk.

It said the company was obliged to make sure the vehicles were maintained and repaired if there was a fault. At the moment, however, the employees were being forced to drive buses that posed a risk to passengers, Mr Bonello added.

Meanwhile, the union has drawn up a strategy with the drivers, which does not exclude future strikes.