No Bus Service Or Ferry Service [Back On]
[Updated] We are running a live blog covering all aspects of today’s [Feb 5] industrial action, however we are just quickly posting bus and ferry information with a separate headline to ensure those that rely on public transportation do not miss it.
As it stands now [5.00pm], the buses are running, but will not be running tomorrow.
Marine & Ports Staff will return to work to provide ferry services at 5.30pm – but only on the Pink and Green routes.
What will happen with the ferry service tomorrow is not clear at this time, however the Transport Ministry is expected to issue an advisory once it has been determined if M&P staff will be operating services tomorrow morning.
We will update as able, and for full coverage of today’s industrial action please see our live blog here.
Update 5.10pm: Govt. confirm “there will be no bus or ferry service tomorrow morning and until further notice.”
Update Feb 6, 3.18pm: The buses and ferries are now running again, with the labour dispute having been resolved.
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Articles that link to this one:
- Videos: March, Minister Fahy, & BIU President | Bernews.com | February 5, 2014
- No Bermuda Bus Service Or Ferry Service Tomorrow (today Feb 6) – BermudaSeek | February 6, 2014
Great service keeping up with events. Could we get comments with latest first as on coming back to them we have to go a long way with popular subjects to read the latest??
Management has broken the “Collective Bargaining Agreement”. This action of the management of hotel is a clear violation of the collective agreement between the worker’s organization; the Bermuda Industrial Union and the hotel. Workers are only seeking that Management abide by the “Collective Bargaining Agreement.” Workers are only seeking Equal Rights and Justice.
Labour can not afford to allow Management to override this agreement, as it will take us back in terms of Labour progress by some 50 years, that many struggled to achieved. This will result in doing away with workers rights in this country if Management is allowed to continue to break the CB. Workers can not go back to been treated like second class citizens in their own country. What is the purpose of Labour Laws and CB if either party does not abide by them.
Well done today, Workers stand strong and together, it will not be easy, it will take some time, but together you will indeed have more success. The comments on the blogs is proof that you have touched at the core of the problem, and that some folks will not like it either way. Do not worry about those folks, just keep pressing on.
Well done !! Great moving forward.
Workers in this country must come together as today it looks like NO ones JOB is safe. Stay strong workers, and stand firmly together is the only way forward.
Chris you are so awesome! Since our economy is booming and all… How do you expect the public to support you when you keep attacking us?
Is there a list of establishments that do not have BIU members on payroll? I would like to SUPPORT THOSE establishments. Why should I support the BIU when they (CF) clearly don’t care about us? My hard earned money will go toward non-union members now whenever possible.
Any suggestions for restaurants that employ predominantly non-union employees?
I see you love me so much that you taken on a name similar to me, as someone else did today !! Together we stand Divided we fall !!
Strikes and Walk-outs are ongoing thru the world. This is often the last form of action that any Worker wants to take, unless their backs are pushed up against the wall.
US Strikes
Dec 5: Thousands of fast food and retail workers went on strike across the US on Thursday in a signal of the growing clamour for action on income equality.
In Chicago, hundreds of protesters gathered outside a McDonalds at 6.15am. As a large “Christmas Grinch” ambled about in freezing temperatures, demonstrators chanted for the minimum wage to be increased to $15 per hour.
President Barack Obama gave a landmark speech on income equality, which he said was “the defining challenge of our time”, while in November thousands of Walmart workers walked off the job in the latest of a series of protests against low pay and poor conditions.
Can this island get any more surreal???
Yes. They actually call these things ‘services’!!!!
London Strikes Ioday Guess it is not just in Bermuda Workers take such actions.
Thousands of Tube passengers have endured delays because of strike action over planned job cuts and ticket office closures.
The first of two planned 48-hour strikes by the RMT and TSSA unions means there is a limited Tube service until Friday morning.
Unions have said they will take part in talks on Friday aimed at resolving the dispute.
RMT leader Bob Crow said: “Our negotiators are geared up and ready to enter the exploratory talks on Friday.
“In the meantime, the current action continues with the rock solid support of our members and we will be back out on the picket lines early in the morning as the strike heads into its third day.”
You mean proper British folk act like lowest denominator Islanders too. LMFAO
1) “Planned” is the operative word.
2) There are limited services not a complete closure of service
3) It is a dispute regarding the transport personnels pay and conditions
By cutting and pasting articles about industrial disputes elsewhere you are highlighting how wrongly the biu are acting by pulling out unrelated workers.
Perhaps you can clarify what this action is supposed to achieve ? Is it about the bar porters or is it about the bar tenders taking on some extra duties or is it about the BIU … Who exactly is being represented by stopping the public transportation over a dispute with a hotel ?
The correct action should be for the HP(or even all fairmont) biu members to work to rule or strike if they feel they need to until the dispute is resolved.
Complaining about the hotel breaking the CBA and then immediately breaking the CBA with government is called hypocrisy. If the union consistently breaches the CBA wrt strikes then they are essentially telling employers that it is not worth the paper its written on.
I agree with the need for unions and there are many valid reasons for needing them but the BIU needs to get its house in order. Does it really think downing tools every time there is a perceived wrong is doing anything for its workers. It is simply turning public opinion against the unions. Like the boy who cried wolf, who is going to believe them if there is ever a true need for a general strike.
So therefore preventing other people getting to do a fair days work and from getting kids to school to learn.
BIU are not about labour and workers, as they are preventing that from happening.
Quick question, as i do not know!! will the workers be paid even though they are on strike? or will the union make a payment for the time workers are off, for all the days they take off??
I don’t care if it is the BIU, BPSU, PLP or who as long as they do not get paid by Government from taxes paid by the very people they are inconveniencing. No work no pay, simple.
Often labour is the ultimate weapon that workers possess. Taking the action to walk out, is something that most workers seldom like to do. But when workers feel like they are forced to take some form of action to improve working conditions, or ensure that a Collective Bargaining agreement is adhered too, this is often their only last resort. No worker likes to take any form of action that will impact their place of employment. But all workers do seek that their employer at least will exercise fair and just working conditions.
Walmart employees are on strike in Miami, Massachusetts and the California Bay Area this morning, kicking off what organizers promise will be the first “prolonged strikes” in the retail giant’s history. The union-backed labor group OUR Walmart says that at least a hundred workers have pledged to join the strikes, and that some workers walking off the job today will stay out at least through June 7, when Walmart holds its annual shareholder meeting near Bentonville, Arkansas.
That may be true Betty Trump, but those companys are not the bread and butter industries of America like hotels are here, some times common sense is better, but guess common sense is just as hard to find as a
virgin!!
Why stop the Island from moving forward Chris and all others that have an influence on the Union workers? Do you all think / believe people will run to Bermuda when they see what type of “doo-do” can / does happens on this Island? Such blind sighted behavior we’re seeing from the Union/s? Picket Princess yes Union workers but to make the innocent suffer for the guilty is like, “cutting off your nose to spite your face”.
Walmart is one of the worse corporations in the world. They need to be shut down. Poor pay, no worker benefits for workers who they fail to give full work hours to keep from paying them benefits, cheap goods brought in from China off the backs of cheap labor, need I say more BT? But Bermuda is attempting to keep it’s hotels a float so that the tourist will have a place to come.
Don’t even compare Bermuda to the UK or USA. Bermuda is just a small fish in a very big ocean and needs all of it’s worker employed all of the time. There is no places to run in Bda like in those 2 big countries that do not depend on TOURIST to assist their economy.
Next thing these very strikers will be lined up outside of a non union church looking for food for their children that can’t get to school AND be served food by another non union worker. Get the point?
OR YOU and CHRIS can pay them out of your savings while they walk the streets striking. You go girl!
We all complain about these strikes but not a single one of us will stand up against their nonsense and say enough is a enough.
We elected the OBA. Lets hope they can deal with this parasite on our economy.
personally I am SO tired of paying all my government fees on time so that these slugs of society can can get paid to do nothing that they don’t feel like!!!! Go to work Do your job properly and you will succeed.
What would you suggest?
Yes, they will get paid from the strike fund. But since they are the ones that contributed to that fund in the first place, they are really just taking money out of the bank (if you can call the BIU a bank – I SAH would not put my money there!).
I think ALL shops, supermarkets, hair dressers, restaurants, Spas, nail places, Hotels in BERMUDA should close down all day tomorrow because you know all the BIU members are planning to shop, get hair done, go Spa, get a greeze, nails done while the REST OF US WORK ALL DAY…
Hello! Hit the nail on the head with that,
Dummy, how can you go to work if you’re wanting everything closed.
iceman It’s called sarcasm. Hope you have a nice day.
Norf Rock Cakes works in an office Iceman. Like you think that there is only establishments that YOU go to where people work? duh! nah who is the dummy?
Because bus and ferry drivers are also bar porters?????
This is ridiculous/appalling/disgusting….take your pick.
Do you think the blind lemmings that follow the grand POOBA Flubert see that, they need a vacation you know, plus all the bus and fairy crew work as bar porters that do jack s***. Hey here is an idea all bus drivers should have a porter to help them and same for the fairy crews. Typical Bermuda. THATS NOT MY JOB
Is this officially classified as a strike, walk out or meeting?
They will probably all call in sick and use up some of the 6 weeks paid sick leave they get. Disgusting. Let’s see if the BIU elite which includes LaVerne and Chris use their cars, paid for by the workers, to provide transportation for students and other workers who need to work to get paid to survive. Somehow I doubt it.
Here is a working solution:
The BIU pay the wages of these people to be at the Hotel (or at home) until the arbitration is completed.
The BIU pay less out…got to be costing a fortune to have to pay all these folks not working.
Govt and hotel don’t have to pay any of them. They walked out.
Nope, they went to a “meeting”, that’s not industrial action, so they will get paid. By the government anyway..
The Union demands that we show some respect for their stance, but yet they offer none in return to the public who I might add pays the majority of your members wages!
Now I am required to take at least half a day off tomorrow to ensure that my child, who usually uses the bus everyday, gets to and from school! So half a day of my vacation is squandered on this silliness.
I still don’t understand why the public transportation workers have to join an industrial action against a private company.
You demand respect but offer none to the tax paying public of this island with such a move.
They will never ever gain my respect with the current actions. I do so wish we the public that are inconvenienced by this action could have a class action suit against the union
This has gotten way out of hand now.
I catch the bus to and from school because my mother doesn’t have a car! Can somebody please tell me how I’m getting school? Please and thank you
I will pick up anybody I see at a bus stop until my car is full.
I urge others to do the same.
If the BIU really wants the respect and support of the public it needs to give more notice. I feel for the people who have lost their jobs and support the Union’s right to industrial action, but do it properly.
You’re a good Bermudian for doing that. Thank you in advance.
Oops! I’m an expat!
I appreciate the sentiment though
Ha, watch out, you’re taking away the right of a Bermudian to pick up people from a bus stop. Or a taxi, so you’re in dire threat of a call to the immigration hotline..
I think he might do his own ironing sometimes as well. And cooking. Shocking isn’t it.
“Two planned 48 hour strikes.”
These were properly balloted and notice was given. I support this strike action.
Why can’t BIU ballot and give the required notice? If they did this they would have a lot more support.
Posted in wrong place. This should have gone under Bettty’s post about the tube strikes.
Now go and help with the negotiations before you go back home. You seem to be on the right track so far.
I will do the same, pick up people I see at bus stops tomorrow morning.
Likewise. I’ll pick up anybody with their thumb out tomorrow and take them wherever they want to go.
Me too. a Thumb is a lift. I will be driving around in a white Vitara looking for those I can help.
Call Chris he will give you a FREE ride like he is giving the island a free ride.
See if anyone of your classmates that live near by can give you a lift to school.
@Student, where do you need to go from/to? We have someone leaving St David’s to head into town [to cover tomorrow's Union meeting] in the morning, so if we can help please feel free to send us an email.
Awesome as always Bernews!
There is a facebook page where people are posting their availability to give lifts.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=703706892984579&id=252118261476780&refid=17
Also many people have said they will pick up anyone they see at a bus stop.
Pull together bermuda !
BIU – unfortunately you ruin the credibility of any real grievance with wildcat strikes … And ironically the people you affect the most are those you claim to represent – the ordinary people .
Same way you get home Student.
you are pathetic.
@Terry A six year old reply.
Terry grow up. Very childish comment.
@Student…Ur comment just brought slight tears to my eyes
. Here we have a young person that wants to go to school and learn, but has no way of doing so. I think it would be fair if they made sure that the school buses are running. Its not fair that the children have to suffer because of `grown folks` madness. Im all for workers being treated fairly and proper protocol being followed; however, I dont agree when efforts to solve the problem begin to penalize the children, and interrupt their development and learning process. 
@Shashapretty: I think you lost them on that. Don’t waste your time explaining to brain dead people
@Shashapretty: I do apologize my comment was for Student to stop wasting their time trying to explain to Terry. I’m sorry for the mix up.
That’s one way to piss off all the working people who depend on buses and ferries.
That is so intelligent Terry …grow up this is real not play time , this is just so wrong on so many levels but maybe maybe ts best to be dealt with (unions must be addressed)before we actually start to make progress on the tourism front.
Good Luck Tourism Authority!
privatize schoolbuses…jobs created and money to be made.
None unionised work force of course!
Buses and ferries only ? I doubt it strongly . When they go out so does W&E so I’d strongly advise against taking your trash out tomorrow morning (NOT tonight , tomorrow as it should be …)
If you west enders do and it’s still at your gate at 5pm tomorrow , please take it back in and keep up with the news.
Nothing worse than seeing uncollected garbage all over the island for days and days because some (many) people don’t keep abreast of what’s happening all around them .
I was just thinking the same thing.
Bernews, is W&E operating tomorrow?
And the only two who will continue to get paid will be the Furbert’s Chris and Laverne
Another nail in Bda’s coffin. You think for one minute that these foreign managers and owners give a damn if Bda sinks. They will up and leave in no time. The BIU need to really think before they make these decisions I hope all other options have been looked at because now we have the BA association advising British travelers not to go to Bda because the island has shut down. These actions may seem justified the union need to think of the long term ramifications this may cause Bda during this very fragile economic times.
I leave Fractious St at 7 30. I will kindly squeeze 3 in my car in the morning to Hamilton, no charge….. This is the time the island shall pull together and be blessed, white, black, Philippines, Portuguese, Mexicans & all…. UNITE BERMUDA LIKE WE DID in the 60′s, 70′s and EARLY 80′s
What a sad state our island is in right now! Unbelievable it had to come to this. Tourists, students, people who do not drive and depend on Public transportation… Come on guys lets resolve this before our Island sinks further.
bus drivers are the worst drivers in the world anyway,their attitude is surly and they are lazy,park their buses anywhere they please,leaving engines running and door open while they go to get take away food…
As for getting people to work tomorrow,there are many with cars that will pick up people in their own cars.
we have had this CRAP thrown at us law abiding non striking people before and we have coped.
the biu and it’s bully boys would have been broken up many years ago in any other country in the world,it’s leaders locked up
Great offer – just check no one wanting a ride is a BIU member!
Ask where they work & what they do first.
Yeah, let um (union workers) walk. The exercise might send some more oxygen to their brains and help them think better and realize what de hel they are doing to themselves and the island.
They should allow 16 year olds to tow.
That too. The BPS selectively ignore the enforcement of laws.
Did anyone get charged today for having a march without a permit. Did anyone get charged with obstructing traffic in Hamilton. It is not like the BPS did not see it happening.
these marches are annoying but I understand the principal at stake here if I understand the BIU’s point sufficiently. Employers agree a process, to then flout that brings consequences. Should it be 2 marches in one day inconveniencing everyone and maybe least of all the hotel?? Probably there is a better, more targeted form way of making your point and showing cause and effect to the employer.
To not see that there is a fine line being trodden here is comical. Charge someone for an illegal demonstration (if that’s even possible without arresting all 1000) and watch the riots unfold.
I saw probably 30 police officers (I’be be interested to hear what % of the total police service on duty at that time was) round the city manning traffic points trying to ensure that the marchers were safe, traffic was inconvenienced as little as possible etc. That’s 30 cops who could have been “catching shooters and robbers” as I’m never done hearing they all need to do (like that isn’t the sole focus and decent percentage of the Service).
And yes, I’m sure police just drive around all day not bothering about certain laws. I’m sure you don’t prioritize what to do on your job either, right? There are lazy and incompetent doctors, lawyers, road cleaners and yes, police. What a shocking revelation that is.
I wish the government would change the laws and leave B.I.U members responsible for paying their own dues
That would only be the right thing to do. Why should an employer foot the administration bill for separation & payment of union dues. It should be up to members to pay their own dues & the union administrations job to collect those dues.
If that happened certain union admin people would not have so much on the blogs or talk radio. A double benefit.
If you walk off…or have walked off today…you disgust me. Please, somebody…bust the BIU before we all go down the drain! This is now ridiculous.
Service?????bus and ferry??? are you joking they do not provide a service, we work for them. Saw some corp of hamilton workers in the “march” they don’t work either. Must be nice to have a union that represents the mass of NON workers that seem so oppressed. GET A LIFE.
@Com On Man…lol…The only person I `lost` is the person that `disliked` my comment…I mean, who doesnt love the kids?!
Tomorrow is going to be a booming day for taxis & minibuses. They should be out in full force to show that the BIU, & their so called workers, are not needed.
Hope everyone else shows their disgust with the BIU by picking up anyone at bus stops.
To those picked up, don’t abuse the kindness. Offer at least a few $ for your ride.
Great idea – lets lift club and show that we won’t be undone by wild cat strikers. (Can anyone pick up my 5 tourists from the airport?! Or should I suggest they head off to the Bahamas?)
Chris Furbert is doing his best to follow the “Kill Bermuda” philosophy of Ewart Brown
This is hurting..Much reaspect to those offering lifts…By the way…If people can pick up brothers/sisters/kids on “strike day”, why can’t we do this on “non-strike day”? We can pull together everyday-peace
What about the poor souls trying to get to job interviews? Stress caused by employed spoiled brats while the rest of us struggle
Why don’t I just phone the 5 tourists scheduled to visit tomorrow and tell them that Bermuda’s closed/on strike. Sorry – you can’t hire a car, have to pay additional tax of 17.5% for “service”, no ferry, no buses (exact change only), and your hotel staff are on a wild cat strike.
Any wonder the big names are leaving?
Fire every single one of them! Grrrrr! This really gets under my skin
It is unfortunate that some people truly NEED the public transportation system. If we could find a way to provide transportation to those people I would recommend that everyone Boycott the buses and ferries forever. Never use them again. Then they could strike for the rest of their lives and be happy. Oh wait, then they would all lose their jobs and their homes and their VEHICLES and would need public transportation.
Lots of souls to take their jobs!
We need to get rid of all of these lame a**es! Bring in some foreigners! Sick and tired of these damn bus drivers!
so please can the BIU tell me how i am supposed to get to and from work tomorrow?
If i have to get a taxi to a and fro i am rather tempted to bring the receipts and a lawyer to the BIU headquarters to get my money reimbursed.
Right from the start I saw this coming! – as soon as I saw the headlines Princes Hotel gets rid of several Bermudians -I smelled trouble -
here we go again’ – BIU vs Princess Hotel vs OBA – we have had similar Labour battles since the 1950′s -
you would think that we have found a more efficient way to solve them.
so now were going to have our usual island shutdown because of this — it’s starting to look like Bermuda
back in the 1970′s to the mid 1990′s. – her we go again!
My parents left Bermuda in 1972 because of the BIU. Years later I asked why we left he told me that the BIU would destroy the island as far a tourism. Unions have too much power in the labor force and imbedded in important industries docks, public transport, hotels and so on and on. I just wish we could look at the HR report on these employees and see for ourselves if they where an asset to the hotel as model employees. We have to blame those business owners of years gone by for this as they treated employees with no respect and only worried about their pocket books and how much money they could make at the expense of their cheep labor with no benefits at all just to say consider yourself lucky to have a job take it or leave it. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS MESS YOU PUT US IN 50 YEARS LATER. GREAT JOB well done. As a business owner and an employer of 4 Bermudians in the carpentry industry. I treat my staff like family we pay all there Major medical insurance and as a bonus and all the other perks. One thing I can tell you I don’t have to worry about my staff at all they look out for me!!!!!!