Mr Justice Silvio Meli today turned down a request by Union Haddiema Maqghudin (UHM) asking to stop a collective agreement between General Workers Union and Malta Public Transport Services (MPT) from coming into force.

In a statement last week, the GWU, arguing that it represented the majority of MPT's employees, said that through the agreement, discrepancies concerning bus drivers' wages which led to some drivers earning less than their colleagues were addressed. However, it added, UHM's legal action is preventing this discrepancy from being addressed.

In its application, UHM asked that MPT does not negotiate any agreement with GWU relating to drivers' working conditions and pay.

In court, MPT said that it has been caught up between two unions which are both claiming they represent the majority of bus drivers, and until the necessary verification checks are carried out, MPT will deal with the union which had sole recognition when the last collective agreement was signed, that is, the GWU.

 

The court ruled that UHM's request cannot be approved until verification procedures for sole recognition are carried out.