Both sides said the other had made concessions to avert strike action. However, unions have only ruled out any further protest for a period of 30 days, during which they are to meet once more with the national transport association to further discuss pending issues.


According to unions and ANTRAM, a demand for a minimum wage of 1,200 euros had not been agreed to, but that transport bosses have accepted to raise salaries to “very near” to that figure.


The SNMMP union was only created late last year, but has already become one of the country’s influential trade unions.


Back in April, a four-day strike by fuel tanker drivers saw many forecourts run dry of petrol. This resulted in the Government decreeing an energy crisis and contemplating calling in the military to assist while also decreeing a civil requisition to ensure minimum services operated, including law enforcement, rescue services and health care.


In related news, the cost of refuelling has dropped for the first time this week following 12 weeks of successive increases.


The major reasons for petrol becoming cheaper have been attributed to the euro strengthening against the dollar while the price of crude oil has also gone down.


But despite these favourable developments in the market, both unleaded petrol and diesel have only become slightly cheaper, each only dropping by half a cent per litre.