GWU issues Friday ultimatum to public transport operator

The General Workers’ Union has given Malta Public Transport up till Friday to reverse a decision to decrease workers’ wages and refund the difference or face strike action.

The dispute with MPT comes in the wake of an announcement by the public transport provider warning that workers' pay would be docked if they fail to clock all the hours they were contractually obliged to do.

The Maritime and Aviation section of the GWU wrote to MPT to express its disagreement with the decision.

In a statement released this afternoon the union said it was clear that no deductions could be made from wages without the employee’s prior consent, which is lacking in this instance.

The statement warns that if its demands are not met by Friday, the union would be constrained to order its members in all sections of MPT to down tools and cease working and providing scheduled bus services.