Update: Arriva drivers this morning refused to drive buses that lacked an adequate air conditioning system, obeying a recent new GWU directive.

The General Workers Union (GWU) had issued the directive, instructing bus drivers not to drive buses that lack functioning air contditioners.

The GWU said in a statement this morning that Arriva “threatened those drivers obeying the directive with disciplinary action, which included no pay for stoppage time. Arriva has no right to intimidate or take action against the drivers.”

“Talks on the issue of lack of air conditioning systems in some buses had been ongoing for some time with Arriva and it had had sufficient time to find a suitable solution to the matter,” the Union said.

Update: Arriva issued a statement today in which it said that it “extends apologies to the general public that may have been affected by the action ordered by the union representing its drivers.”

Arriva officials will be meeting union representatives this afternoon to discuss and resolve the current situation, until the formal talks which are planned to take place this week.

Arriva said in the statement that it “wished to clarify that 99% of its buses are equipped with air conditioning units. The company is also undergoing a process to install additional units on all buses that work directly on the drivers cabin and most of Arriva’s fleet has already been fitted with such units. This process will be complete in the coming weeks.”

For more information please call Arriva’s customer care center on 21222000 or email enquiries@arriva.com.mt.

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