Bus company Arriva is facing the prospect of a revolt by its bus drivers who are mulling not turning up for work on Sunday, the first day of operations of the brand new public transport service.

Several drivers who spoke to The Times said their complaint was over the roster issued this week, which has shifts starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.

The drivers raised the issue during a meeting with the General Workers' Union and Arriva yesterday evening.

"In our contract, the agreement was that we would work our eight hours and clock out, not spend the whole day at work," one driver said.

"We're not going to be paid for the extra time, we're still going to be getting €35 a day," he complained, adding that all the drivers were opposed to the roster.

Last night, GWU general secretary Tony Zarb confirmed that some drivers were preoccupied over the conditions in their roster but that the union and Arriva were in talks about the matter.

He refused to say whether the company was being threatened with industrial action.

"We want to fix things and I hope (the company) listens to what the union tells it, so that we don't have to resort to any action," Mr Zarb told The Times.

Arriva representatives were not in a position to comment last night.

dschembri@timesofmalta.com