GWU claims Arriva drivers withdrew resignations, but refuse to disclose number

General Workers' Union (GWU) secretary-general Tony Zarb has refused to state the number of Arriva drivers who have withdrawn their resignation from a new trade union formed for Arriva drivers.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the GWU insisted that "several" drivers had withdrawn their resignation and will continue being members of the union.

However, Public Transport Union interim president Samuel Grech insisted with MaltaToday that this was not true: "100 resignations were submitted and 100 resignations remain. The GWU's claim is completely untrue."

Contacted for a reaction, Zarb insisted that it was the GWU "that was telling the truth" but he turned down a request by MaltaToday to publish the number of the drivers who had now decided to remain with the GWU.

"The fact is that several workers have reconsidered their decision and we will be notifying the management at Arriva of this development," Zarb said.

On Monday, some 170 Arriva drivers formed their own house union - the PTU - after disagreeing with the collective agreement being negotiated with Arriva by the GWU. Aided by their lawyer Robert Abela, 100 of these reportedly sent their resignation letter to the union. The PTU had added that more resignations were expected.

In its statement, the GWU said that the Arriva workers "realised that only GWU can truly safeguard their interests and have recognised the hard work we are doing to obtain better conditions on their behalf".

The union added that on Tuesday secretary-general Tony Zarb and transport section secretary Charles Agius held another long meeting with Arriva management over workers' collective agreement. Another meeting is scheduled for next Saturday, with the hope that an agreement is reached in three weeks' time.

The GWU urged the workers to remain "united" within the GWU and "be wary of attempts to divide them, forcing them to sign documents".

Unlike what was reported in the media, workers never voted on the collective agreement, it added.