In support of the bus strike

The public transport strike is legitimate. Both workers and commuters deserve a fair deal from the new operators.

The government is obliged to ensure that the company subsidised by taxpayers’ money to the tune of €23 million offers decent conditions to its workers.

One hopes that the subsidy formula is worked in a way, which ensures both a radical improvement of the service offered to consumers while also ensuring good working conditions.

In the absence of good working conditions for drivers commuters cannot expect a good service.  Bad working conditions create frustration and anger amongst drivers. As long as driving a bus remains one of the lowest paid jobs in Malta one cannot expect drivers to provide a service with a smile. Moreover there are also safety considerations.  Taking a break after six hours of driving also ensures that drivers are not exhausted and drive commuters safely.

It was the government’s responsibility to ensure that the new company respects workers’ rights.  One would have expected a left wing government to bind the new service operators to provide a living wage.  One wonders whether the yet unpublished contract with Autobuses de Leon contains any contractual obligations binding the company to respect workers’ rights. 

It simply preposterous that workers are not even allowed 30 minutes rest after 6 hours continuous driving.  How would you expect a driver working in such conditions to provide a service with a smile?

 The silver lining in all this is that the strike represents a rare occasion of trade union unity with the UHM supporting the GWU’s strike.  It is also positive that the GWU is underlining its political independence by putting the workers’ interests before any partisan considerations. 

It is positive that the new service will cater for 27 new routes.  But commuters, some of which are paying more with the new Tal-Linja card system, expect a more radical improvement.  

For while in Arriva times (when the service was not any better) one  could buy a day ticket for €1.50 and a week ticket for a €6.50 irrespective of the number of trips, each two hours bus trip now costs 75 cents. Moreover the new system has been ridden by faults to extent that drivers are feeling eembarrassed when charging people the full ticket fare of €2 when their card does work through no fault of their own.  On one occasion I found myself spending €6 on buses simply cause my card was not working. 

Consumers and drivers are in the same boat.  This is why as a commuter I fully support transport workers fighting for their dignity.