Further bus strikes are unlikely for the time being as an agreement over driver break times was reached yesterday after a one-day strike which almost brought publikc transport to a standstill.

The deadlock was broken during mediation talks presided over by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi that started when the strike ordered by the General Workers’ Union was still in progress.

In a statement last night, the ministry said the GWU and Malta Public Transport had agreed on a proposal to introduce a minimum 15-minute break at one stretch.

It also noted that the agreement would have no impact on the financial package being discussed between the two parties as part of a new collective agreement. Thus, talks would continue in the coming days on other pending issues of the collective agreement, it said.

The GWU welcomed the development and expressed hope that a final deal would be sealed soon.

The dispute erupted when the company announced the introduction of new rosters with split five-minute rest periods rather than one continuous period of at least 15 minutes. These changes were part and parcel of a route network revamp. However, the introduction of the first batch of new routes set for September 13 had to be suspended due to this dispute.

Both sides will be meeting again in the coming days.

Earlier, the GWU described the drivers’ response to its directive as a resounding success, with no buses on the roads till the afternoon. The GWU had the backing of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin.

Bus drivers gathered at the Valletta station awaiting developments from union representatives. Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

‘A resounding success’

In the afternoon, a number of drivers were forced to go back to work after a court provisionally upheld a Malta Public Transport request to issue an injunction. As a result, a slight improvement in the level of service was registered by the evening.

The court declared that the unions’ decision to order a strike was in breach of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act. This laid down that public passenger transport is an “essential service” to the community and, hence, the operator was obliged to run an emergency service in case of indistrial action.

The bus company blamed both unions for the failure to provide emergency service

In its application, the bus company blamed both unions for its failure to provide such an emergency service, arguing that its employees had been “misled” and given wrong information by the unions.

Addressing a news conference at Valletta bus terminus minutes after the court decision, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb branded the company decision to request an injunction a “cowardly act”.

He said the union had disregarded the provision of the law regarding “essential services” because it had contested that particular clause from the very moment it had been enacted by former transport minister Austin Gatt.

Mr Zarb said even the International Labour Organisation had backed the union’s stance on this issue. Asked whether the union would mount a legal challenge to repeal this clause, Mr Zarb did not commit himself.

He said that, on the eve of the strike, the company had tabled as “shameful” offer through which its request would only be considered if drivers accepted a lower financial package in their collective agreement.

This statement was contested by company general manager Konrad Pulé who accused Mr Zarb of taking their proposal “out of context”. Speaking at the company’s offices in Qormi a couple of hours after Mr Zarb’s press conference, he hinted that the company would be willing to accept the drivers’ request but on certain conditions.

“Our position is not an outright ‘no’ as long as there is enough time to implement these changes. The 48-hour ultimatum given by the GWU on Tuesday was totally unacceptable,” Mr Pulé said.

Julio Tironi, transportation director of the Spanish group which last January took over Malta Public Transport, accused the union of continuously shifting the goalposts during negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party lashed out at the Transport Minister saying drivers and commuters were bearing the brunt of his “incompetence”. The PN reiterated its call for the publication of the concession agreement given to the Spanish company.

Alternattiva Demokratika called for better conditions for bus drivers while expressing itself against the company’s proposal for split shifts.