As of 4.30pm, around 40% of the bus services were in operation after a court ruled that the General Workers Union and Union Haddiema Maghqudin must comply with the provisions of the law which stated that, during industrial action, 50% of the services must still be provided.

The operator explained that this morning, only 10% of the services were functioning.

Addressing a press conference at the Malta Public Transport headquarters, Konrad Pule, general manager, and Julio Tironi, international transport director, said that MPT were obliged by the law to provide 50% of the service, and this is why the company took the matter to court when it was realised that the GWU and UHM were not willing to follow the contract stipulated.

The company said that it is open for discussion but the 48-hour deadline given by the unions was not enough for it to assess the situation. The company is however ready to discuss all union proposals, including longer breaks for the workers, which is a huge bone of contention in the current dispute which led to the bus strike today.

The representatives dismissed claims made that the company would only concede on half-hour breaks in return for a reduced financial package, stating that it was taken out of context.

“We had offered a complete package but the Union rejected it and offered a different one”.

Asked if there was a proposal that the company was dead-set against, they answered no. They explained that they are tackling every point brought up by the unions, but cannot change the whole proposal in 48 hours. "We cannot accept an ultimatum to accept their position within 48 hours. That's not the way negotiations can be done". They agreed with the statement that the unions' demands were not unacceptable, but needed more time.

The MPT spokesmen apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers. “We understand employees can hold a strike, it is within their rights, a fundamental principle. We must, however, point out that this must be done within the context of the law”.

The MPT representatives said that the employees were led to believe that they did not need to comply with the 50% requirement.

They explained that they took the matter to court not because of the Unions or the employees, but rather for the public. “We have an obligation to provide a minimum service”.

The company explained that they are still open to discussions. “We are willing to find a balance for the good of the public, the drivers and the company”.

The operators mentioned that they still plan to roll out their “change in network” later this year, and apologised for the delay on that.

As for working conditions, the company said that the conditions of Maltese workers are identical to those given to foreign workers. They also said that the conditions for workers comply with EU and Maltese regulations

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Earlier

Malta Public Transport said today in a statement issued at 2.50pm that the Maltese Civil Court has provisionally upheld a request for the issuance of a Prohibitory Injunction and has ordered the General Workers Union and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin to immediately comply with the company's request for the unions to abide by the provisions of the Law which require that at least 50% of the public transport services are to remain available notwithstanding any dispute, and which therefore means that the unions and the employees are to permit that 50% of the company's services resume immediately.

In a statement, the company said it filed the Warrant of Prohibitory Injunction today requesting that the Court orders the GWU and the UHM to discontinue and cease from issuing any directive or industrial action in the context of the ongoing discussions relating to the conditions of employment.

The drivers have therefore acted on misleading and incorrect information which has been provided to them by the union, the MPT said. As a result, the company was not in a position to provide at least 50% of the bus service today as required by the Law. This is to the detriment of the general public, specifically, the children, the elderly and the thousands of workers who depend on the public transport to get to work. 

Notwithstanding that the union and the company had agreed several months ago to give the employees special concessions in return for no industrial action during the negotiation of the collective agreement and that the Union has nonetheless gone ahead with the strike today, the company said it has always been and will remain open to discussion but never under the threat of unexpected strikes such as was the case in these past days. It is irresponsible and uncharacteristic of any union to impose any point of the discussion by way of strike, MPT said.

In reply, GWU secretary general Tony Zarb said that the court action will not hold the union back from getting what the Malta Public Transport workers are demanding.

Addressing bus drivers and mechanics at the Valletta bus terminus a few minutes after the court order, Mr Zarb said the MPT's court action was an attempt to try prevent the union from continuing with its industrial action.

"Even if we abide by the court’s decision, and have 50% of workers reporting for work, the rest of the workers will engage in industrial action," Mr Zarb said.

He hit out at former PN Minister Austin Gatt who secretly included a clause that in the case of a bus strike, the union has to ensure that at least 50% of the service is provided.

He said that the union is currently seekeing legal advice on the issue of the prohibitory injunction imposed by the court. He urged MPT not to fear the union and engage in discussions.

Photos and footage: Jonathan Borg