The General Workers’ Union yesterday threatened to disrupt the bus service unless Malta Public Transport accepted its demands within 48 hours.

The ultimatum came after the union demanded an increase in employees’ wages, a minimum 30-minute break every six hours, a fixed day off and new shifts, including weekends off every seven weeks. It also asked for written guarantees. Two weeks ago, the GWU threatened industrial action over new rosters the company wanted to introduce as part of the public transport reforms.

As a result. new routes and frequencies announced at the start of the month had to be postponed as discussions between the union and the company continued. The union yesterday insisted that unless the company met its demands it would have no other choice but to take action s to safeguard its members’ interests.

It made it clear that, in spite of the talks, the management was insisting on the working hours it had proposed and was not guaranteeing workers a 30-minute break after six hours of work.

In May, the GWU ordered a six-hour strike over what it said were deductions in some workers’ pay.