Monday 7 July: Transport Ministry announces liberalisation of motor hearse licenses.

Friday 11 July: The Federation of Public Transport Associations (FPTA) threatens an indefinite strike unless the new hearse licenses are withdrawn.

Saturday 12 July: Transport Minister Austin Gatt declares his decision to be final, and the FTPA issues an ultimatum for the withdrawal of the licences.

Sunday 13 July: MLP leader Joseph Muscat urges the FPTA not to strike as this would only damage the consumer and not the government.

Monday 14 July: At 6am the FTPA – the Blue Grotto Boats, the Public Transport Association, the Mini-Buses Co-operative, the Motor Hearses Association and White taxis Licensed Amalgamated – together comprising over 1,000 public transport vehicles, go on strike, blocking access to Valletta while hundreds of drivers gather in Castille Square to charge up the main staircase of Auberge de Castille. During the night, protestors loiter outside Gatt’s house in Valletta in a sign of intimidation.

Tuesday 15 July: Three minibus drivers are remanded in custody after attacking a minibus carrying tourists. A privately owned double-decker bus is surrounded by protesters and vandalised while it is carrying tourists during a sightseeing tour.
An emergency service offered by the Armed Forces of Malta is halted due to safety reasons, as strikers surround some of the vehicles, damage them and remove their ignition keys.
Protesters block access to the Park and Ride in Blata l-Bajda and taxi drivers make an attempt at disrupting chauffer-driven cars at the Valletta cruise terminal. Mortuary reaches half capacity as funerals are delayed. Late at night, Victor Spiteri reveals to MaltaToday that Gatt offered a settlement €60,000 to the Motor Hearses Association. Gatt’s spokesman confirms that an offer was made but says the figure is incorrect.

Wednesday 16 July: Tourist and employers associations, and construction companies, file judicial protest against the FTPA over losses incurred during the strike. More disruptions at the emergency Sliema-Valletta ferry service organised by government. Three minibus drivers ambush a coach carrying 50 English language students in Zebbug, beating up the 61-year-old coach driver. Two bus drivers and six taxi drivers are arraigned in court and remanded to custody for charges in connection to violence and vandalism during the previous days.
Unexpectedly, the Motor Hearses Association withdraws its membership from the FTPA and pulls out of the strike against a settlement offer of €230,000 from Government.

Thursday 17 July: Police stop the buses from leaving the Valletta, Qormi termini and taxis from leaving the airport. FPTA president Victor Spiteri says hopes of reaching an amicable agreement are lost and warns of “bloodshed”. The FPTA stops the strike and both government and the federation accept to go to consultation on liberalisation.

Friday 18 July: Bus service resumes.