Malta Public Transport mechanics are being treated like machines, Union Haddiema Maqghudin said in a statement.

The union said several workers complained about the way they were being treated by the company management. It received complaints from drivers, mechanics and cleaners.

“From the information given it is clear that the new MPT management is continuously intimidating the mechanics with the aim of reducing their working conditions.” The union said the company was also inventing certain working hours and conditions that were illegal in a bid to change their working hours. The company, it said, also threatened employees and told them they would be sacked if they did not accept the new conditions.

It also claimed that the public transport company was engaging contractors who were paid eight times as much as its own mechanics to intimidate them and deprive them of their earnings. It said MPT was calculating the work carried out by the mechanics and dictating the times. This was all to their detriment since these are not production line workers and unneeded haste could bit them in danger of injury.,

“The UHM is also informed that MPT will be engaging Spanish mechanics in order to further undermine their rights. This is not the first time this has happened as MPT had already engaged Spanish cleaners instead of Maltese employees, who were transferred to do other work.”

The UHM said this was not the way to treat employees.

UHM Secretary General Josef Vella said that the subsidies being given by the government should be enjoyed by Maltese workers, not Spanish. Mr Vella said these workers had lost all faith in the General Workers Union and turned to the UHM for help.  Because of this, they were receiving threats from the company’s head office.  This, and the way in which the workers were being treated was unacceptable, Mr Vella said.

The UHM said it would be organizing a meeting for MPT workers.