Any changes to the public transport service which might affect Arriva employees will not be accepted without proper consultation, the General Workers Union warned yesterday.

The union, which represents Arriva employees, said it was closely following developments in the dispute between the Government and the transport operator over the proposed introduction of new routes.

The GWU said it had requested the Transport Ministry to set up a meeting between all stakeholders.

The union’s statement was issued after Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said the Government had a ‘Plan B’ in case Arriva pulled out of the 10-year contract prematurely.

The Sunday Times of Malta revealed this week that the transport operator, which has incurred losses of about €35 million since July 2011, does not see eye to eye with the Government over the cost of the new routes and has even threatened to pull out of Malta.

It also disagrees with the Government’s request to phase out the bendy buses.

As a result, a planned ministerial announcement that one million kilometres were to be added to Arriva’s journeys had to be postponed.

Speaking on the One TV breakfast show yesterday, Mr Mizzi referred to the decision to temporarily remove bendy buses from the roads following a series of fires, saying this showed he was ready to face any kind of adversity.

Both the public and school bus services were running smoothly, he added.

The Unscheduled Bus Service, which is contracted to do the school run all over Malta, was roped in to fill the gap left by the bendy buses.

Mr Mizzi said the routes were at the core of an efficient bus service. He restated his intention to introduce the changes within the first three months of next year following broad consultation.

“I will be sticking to the contract between the Government and Arriva,” he added.