More former Arriva bus drivers and workers from other sections have joined the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, the union said today.

After bus drivers now employed with the Malta Public Transport Limited joined the union last week, more workers followed suit, it said.

In a statement, the UHM expressed satisfaction that these employees saw that the UHM was more in a position to represent them. It said the only thing achieved when the workers were represented by another union was payment when they worked public holidays, something that was already their right.

A verification exercise is currently under way after the UHM last week requested sole recognition.

It also criticised the company management for "discriminating" against the union by not allowing it to use the company noticeboard following "unfounded claims" by the General Workers' Union. It also called on the GWU and the company management to let the verification exercise take its course.

The GWU, however, denied that a verification process was underway and said this was confirmed by company CEO Konrad Pule and the director of Employment and Industrial Relations Noel Vella.

The union also said that contrary to what the UHM was alleging triple pay on a public holiday was not a basic right provided by law so it was worrying for workers that a union that continually declared it wanted to represent them did not know what their basic conditions of employment were.

The GWU said it was committed to continue working for the benefit of the workers who had shown absolute confidence in it. It encouraged them not to allow anyone with ulterior motives to divide them at such an important stage.