Bus drivers have been directed by their union not to drive 12-metre-long buses or wear their uniforms as industrial action is stepped up against the Spanish operator.
The move comes after a court ruled that a Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin order directing drivers not to accept payment from commuters was illegal.
The UĦM is at loggerheads with Autobuses de Leon, owner of Malta Public Transport, claiming it has not recognised the union’s representation of its workers.
On Friday the union directed drivers to allow passengers to ride for free, claiming the company was breaching workers’ right to representation. The same day, however, the court ordered the UĦM to withdraw the directive – an order the union had ignored until it received the official court decision yesterday afternoon.
Autobuses De Leon Transport Division director Julio Tironi told The Sunday Times of Malta the company would be holding theunion responsible for the consequences of the drivers’ actions.
“It is inexplicable that the UĦM should have a total disregard for the court order. This is irresponsible and will have inevitable consequences,” Mr Tironi said
Addressing a press conference, UĦM general secretary Josef Vella yesterday said the new industrial action would affect a “large portion of buses”. The 12-metre vehicles are the largest in the fleet and are predominantly used on popular routes. Mr Vella said that despite the order, the company would still be able to provide 50 per cent of its service, as stipulated by law.
This is an abuse of the judicial system
He added it was “ridiculous” that the company had still not recognised the union’s representation of workers, after a clear majority in membership.
According to the Department of Industrial Relations the UĦM won a vote for representation among bus drivers by 56 per cent. Despite this, the union cannot begin negotiations with the company over issues affecting workers until it is recognised as their official representative in a letter to employees. “This is abuse of the judicial system. You can’t drag your feet on giving workers their rights. They have a right to representation and a right to take industrial action if this is threatened,” Mr Vella said.
He said while it was regrettable such action may have affected the public, the union would not stop there.
“If that is the case then we might as well get the industrial relations law and tear it up because there is no point in having a right to take action if you can’t do it in practice.”
On Friday the directive not to accept payment from commuters caused considerable disruption and passengers were left stranded at the Valletta terminal as the company prevented buses from leaving.