The public transport strike organised by the UHM was a success, UHM Secretary General Josef Vella told The Malta Independent.
The strike, deemed an utter failure by the General Workers Union, saw 23 out of the 900 workers of Malta Public Transport Services (MPTS) follow the UHM directive yesterday; however Mr Vella said that the strike forced the bus operator to formulate extra plans to counter it.
People with unknown affiliations had contacted drivers threatening them with cuts from the overtime list and possible termination of work should the drivers participate in the strike, Mr Vella explained. “We will be taking action against this,” the Secretary General added.
“It is not democratic to threaten workers who want to strike, dangling their jobs in front of them,” he explained.
Both the GWU and UHM claimed majority representation of bus drivers. “We will wait for the ballot and verification exercise,” the UHM spokesman told this media house, adding that should the UHM not receive the majority of votes for representation then the union will back down.
Yesterday, the GWU condemned the UHM, arguing that the strike only served to create trouble a few weeks away from the appointment of a new operator. In response, the UHM told this paper that public transport in Malta has undergone constant reforms over the past few years, and as such, by the GWU’s argument, it would never be the right time for this. “We are expressing our opinions. It does not affect what the Ministry is trying to achieve abroad,” Mr Vella said.
GWU will defend itself
The GWU warned that if anything detrimental occurs to the recognition of its “absolute majority” in terms of representation of members who work in the sector, it will take the necessary steps to defend its position.
18 MPTS workers obeyed the UHM directive today, the GWU argued. Reports indicate that the UHM is set to meet with Transport Minister Joe Mizzi this afternoon.
The GWU is currently involved in discussions regarding work conditions for its members prior to the introduction of a new public transport operator.
Authority's records incomplete
UHM Secretary General Josef Vella said that the number of drivers registered with UHM do not match up to the Malta Public Transport’s records and approximately a hundred names are missing. Mr Vella said that 400 of the 600 drivers are members of the UHM, and the union will continue to strike until the government agrees to a meeting.