Bus owners take action

A meeting between the Public Transport Association, the Public Transport Authority and representatives of the transport ministry is expected to be held this morning in a bid to resolve an industrial dispute over pending issues.

Starting yesterday, bus owners have been directed to suspend their service every day at 8 p.m. except on weekends. The bus terminus at City Gate, in Valletta was devoid of buses at that time but full of taxis hoping to win custom from stranded commuters. Only a few tourists were seen taking taxis, however; the locals seemed to have made provision for the strike.

Transport Minister Censu Galea last night confirmed he was informed of a meeting scheduled for this morning.

The association's president, Victor Spiteri, urged the government to intervene saying that if the authorities did not demonstrate goodwill, the association would have to order a total stoppage from next week.

According to the association, the dispute results from the fact that various pending issues have not been addressed by the authority.

It also claims that the authority is not honouring part of the agreement it had reached with the bus owners in 1995 over the purchase of new buses. Under the agreement, bus owners can benefit from subsidies if they want to change their bus, the association says.

However, it adds that the authority is insisting the agreement covers only those 147 owners who had taken up the offer in 1995, so about 35 bus owners who have expressed their intention to change their buses are being left in the dark.