Reference is made to the article under the heading Yes ma’am, cabby please? published in Maltatoday on September 14, 2008 (pages 10 & 11) which merits clarifications to some impressions the said article might have given.
I immediately want to point out that the GWU’s Aviation & Maritime Section has never received notices of resignation from cab drivers/coachmen (“kucciera tal-karozzini”) and therefore the GWU is still representing their interests.
The membership fees’ factor was on several occasions raised with the Coachmen Committee. It is true that very few are an irresponsible bunch whom I consider to be free riders, however this circumstance is beyond our control. What matters most, if they really want to aspire for a solution to their problems, is that the unity among the majority of coachmen as a group remains. As the saying goes; strength lies in unity.
I would also like to refer to the work done by the GWU together with the Coachmen Committee. It is a fact that very often, cabs are regarded by the authorities as an unnecessary means of transport. The decisions taken by the said authorities are in themselves a proof of this. As a matter of fact certain measures introduced by the authorities negatively affected the cabs and coachmen, while at the same time they did not respond adequately to the needs of this sector.
Unfortunately, a small number of coachmen, with their incorrect behaviour, contributed in mounting a very negative opinion against their sector, especially where hygiene is concerned.
All these issues formed part of the agenda of various meetings between the GWU and the ADT, so much so that at one point, together with Mr David Sutton, former ADT Chief Executive Officer, we succeeded to design a draft agreement as well a code of ethics for coachmen.
Unfortunately this agreement collapsed due to the rising cost of fodder and other related problems. Had this agreement been signed, the coachmen and service were to benefit most. That agreement provided explicitly for coachmen to have uniforms, publicity signboards in various places, standardisation of tariffs for the trips, and also for a ticket booth in the vicinity of cruise liners berthing sites. All these were applauded as positive steps by the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Dr Mario Demarco, during a meeting we had earlier this year aiming at finding ways and means to improve this sector and be integrated in the current transport system.
As always, the GWU is committed to do its best to have this agreement signed as soon as possible.

Charles Agius
Secretary – Maritime & Aviation Section
General Workers Union