Bus Service Resumes After Suspension
[Updating] There is some form of industrial action happening this morning [June 17], and it appears that bus drivers have downed tools.
A quick check of the bus terminal shows that the normal morning hustle and bustle isn’t happening, with the terminal in near silence [pictured below]. Unofficial reports indicate the issue may have something to do with a water problem, however further details are unclear at this time. We will update as able.
Update 7.42am: A Transport Ministry spokesperson said, “Please be advised that Department of Public Transportation [DPT] bus operators have stopped work this morning due to plumbing issues at the St. George’s depot and DPT headquarters in Devonshire.
“DPT management is working with Works and Engineering to fix the problem as quickly as possible and an update on progress, and an advisory on when bus service will resume, will be sent as soon as more information is available.”
Update 11.18am: A spokesperson for the Department of Public Transportation [DPT] has advised that buses resumed service at approximately 10.30am this morning.
The spokesperson said, “DPT management and staff would like to apologise to our residents and visitors who were inconvenienced this morning. Plumbing issues at both the St. George’s Depot and Devonshire Depot meant there were no bathroom facilities for bus operators.
“DPT Management have worked with Works and Engineering staff to rectify the problem in the short term and have developed the way forward to ensure there are long term solutions so that these problems do not occur in future.”
Update 11.27am: Photo slideshow below showing the conditions at the St George’s Depot.
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- Home Affairs Minister Meets With BIU President | Bernews.com | June 20, 2014
Bus drivers couldn’t get a free bottle of Dasani = strike
That’s right ,you can’t treat Unionized workers like guest workers, as long as workers have a voice you can’t treat them like SH**, that’s what our for fathers fought against!!!!!!!!
Same SH** different day!
If you know of any workers being treated like ……., then name the businesses or people that are treating them like. S…, or STFU wannabe BIKO.
That’s their problem if they’re treated like SH.. ,We as Organized workers don’t play that SH..!!!!!!!!!!!
So they have to be in your mob or they don’t matter to you??!!!
OK we see who you are now. SMH
Yup, you have to pay to play!
LMFAO
How about Unionized workers act like “workers” for a change. Then they might get more respect from the public.
As long as unions protect drivers and pilots caught operating public vehicles under the influence even after they have an accident, don’t expect most people to sympathize with them.
One thing we know Management will keep their SH.. Clean next time!
LMAO
Cruise ships in, tourist on the streets. What a great time for those jackA$$es to take the buses away!!!!!
Cayman Islands, here we come!
Well go!
@ Gingerbeer ,and de World Cup is on and de workers in Brazil threat to STRIKE, it’s about principle and not about a false image you want to portray!
So if you are in an accident and need urgent medical attention. Perhaps on Principle because the toilets are not working, the emergency room staff should just leave you bleed out, you’d be happy with that?
Need to Ssrvice your customers and sort out your internal issues internally. Always provide the service that is needed, or other people suffer from that being taken from them.
Workers in Brazil would gladly trade situations and conditions with any biu member.
Yup and In de Phillippines too but they stand up for their rights too,injustice is injustice everywhere!
A PLUMBING ISSUE. FOR F**** SAKE. wHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH DRIVING A BUS. IT HAS TO BE MADE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE.
WOW those pictures….Have consideration for your fellow drivers, by flushing and looking after your facilites. If you clog it then plunge it.
Probably find it is one or two drivers causing the mess… Sort em out.
If you bread the handle…fix it, or report you broke it immediately !
@ Shaq
If the bus driver has to drop a Sh*t when they arrive in st. Georges, and the toilet doesn’t work, does that have an impact on driving the bus on time?
So when a bus operator has to really take sh…, maybe they should sit in your lap.
Are you kidding me? Plumbing issues do not affect a bus… Are the new busses decked out with a john in the back? No. Get back to wok like the rest of us. Smh
NO, but it would affect the bus “driver”. How confortable would you be having to drive all day and not able to use the bathroom?
the same way they can stop the bus enroute to pick up their breakfast, im sure they can go potty somewhere other than the bus depot…. hmmmm just wondering as i have been on the bus when it has stopped suddenly for a lunch pick up
What about my kid who relies on the bus to get to and from school? Our bus drivers are waffles… And they were just advertising for bus drivers….
What if your kid couldn’t use the bathroom at school?
See my remark below , Simpleton
well…i don’t think the passengers waiting for and possibly board that bus could use “the” or “a” bathroom either…hmmm…im quite sure there are restrooms along their route in case of an unexpected Nature Call. Once you leave the depot ur on ur own anyway, unless 4 miles into ur trip an u gotta pee so u turn around and go back??
All i can say is go before you come.
ps. we’re not talking about 200 schoolchildren wanting to all go to the bathroom at the same time
It’s time to make the bus service an essential service. All these strikes are starting to get annoying.
TO highly paid spoiled baby brats, The whole lot need to fired and bring in some more Xpats to gladly do their jobs.
No, fire them and train Bermudian people that want to work without union involvement.
Yup do that and they will be treated like Philippine workers!
LMAO
not all union members profit…research it or jus ask your brothas.
All union members profit, sick pay vacation pay, holiday pay, overtime when necessary, good insurance,etc,etc Idiot!
all covered by the employment act.
The majority of workers in Bermuda are not unionized. Employment Act protects us.
Employment Act is a watered down version of the CBA(Collective Bargaining Agreement) and when employers don’t abide by the Employment Act the non-unionized workers have no teeth to enforce it, so without the Union you wouldn’t have a Employment Act and a Wage scale, you just have a promise on a piece of paper!
No, the Employment Act is based on Canadian and UK Laws…nothing to do with a CBA.
Employment Tribunals exist as a means to enforce the rights.
Employment Contracts exist to protect the Employer and Employee in terms of expectations of both parties.
Much more to this story than meets the eye! Bermuda cannot afford such behavior to continue . We are too small for ongoing power struggles. Make this an essential service!
long way to go…we havent attained haitian status jus yet.
Sh*t Happens… Hahaha
Taking every chance they can to harm Bermudians and tourists alike.
We’ll let the toilets not be working where the tourist are staying and see how they react FOOL!
Totally different situation . Simpleton
Same principle Fool
i agree witchu here …LET’S get that disgusting bathroom fixed immediately…oh oh …whose gonna give us the fixtures and whose gonna install them for us for FREE coz we aint got NO MONEY!
What is wrong with this Island? Dont you realize kids are taking exams at school! So now they are without transport to get to their exams on time! clearly you bus drivers only think about yourselves! How does plumbing affect driving a damn bus!
Why don’t people check their facts before they vent?!!! The drivers did not have restroom facilities and it was an ongoing problem-Gov’t had more than ample time to fix this AND DID NOT! What are drivers supposed to do if they need to use the bathroom before getting on their route? Are they just supposed to hold it in or something?
I’m sure all of you have restroom facilities where you work-why should the drivers not have the same?
I don’t support going on strike whilly-nilly but it sounds like they had had enough. As for the tourist moaning that they won’t come back if they get wind of ftuture strikes-don’t you have strikes where YOU come from? Why take it out on an entire country? I’ve been in N.Y. on a couple of occasions and they have had strikes-it happens…what:I’m going to say I’m never going back to the U.S. because N.Y. has had strikes? It’s stupid.
So it was the Unionized Works and Engineering workers at fault !!!!!!!!!!
One set of unionized workers messed up, so the other set of unionized workers caused disruption to the public.
Can’t you all just get things done ?
In other countries unions give notice before striking.
I actually think that the state of the toilets appears disgraceful and is a matter worthy of industrial action but not without notice.
If Govt. had ample time to fix it then the union had ample time to give notice.
Please can we get dated proof of all the requests that people are happy to call for management heads for.
Then if sufficient we can demand mangement, or office worker get fired.
What happened with the 21 day Strike Notice?
Ask your government!
Something else inherited from the previous administraion?
Why has the government not gotten the legislation in place yet to deal with these strikes?
…because we live in something called a ‘democracy’ and people have something called ‘rights’ and there’s already legislation in place that gives one a legal right to join a union and with that comes protection-deal with it.
Ya slavery days are over even though you have people who think workers should be treated like one, just ask Phillippine workers!!!!!!!!!!!!
@KimSmith you mean like how they swindled de legislation to suspend all contracts that were honored , like de Hamilton Harbor Project, typical Colonialist Dictatorial ways, de people have been resisting these ways since Dr. Gordon era and de beat goes on!
Once again left stranded. Buses so unreliable .
All of management and the operators should be fired and replaced with ppl who want to work and move bermuda forward
The last time I visited Bermuda the union decided to have an all day meeting after all the visitors purchased multi-day passes which were unusable for the last day we were there. We are visiting again in October and bringing friends that have never visited Bermuda. If we get screwed over again by the bus drivers, we won’t be back again. I guess I better stop bragging about how easy it is to get around Bermuda since we can no longer depend on the bus and ferry services!
Please stop the madness. What does the water outage have to do with driving your busses!
Bus drivers are only human. We apologize for the inconvenience but we do have to use the bathroom during our turn around periods, if they are not working then we have to find other alternatives which delay our next destination and jeopardize our jobs. The bathrooms in the east have been in deplorable condition for some time and we have put up with it for long enough. It was was absolutely necessary to take action at this point.
So why then were the busses out west NOT running?
It’s called solidarity and/or collective action.
Also known as a wildcat strike!
Also known as if you don’t hear me when I complain your gonna feel me when I STRIKE!
I fully understand sir…. another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
When you say for sometime how long? Was it reported under the previous administration? Why was a walk out not stage then?
Apparently you don’t know how to use water to wash your hands after you’ve taken a piss or sh..! Or maybe you yourself don’t need water.
you may have a little shyness about cleanliness but we in bermuda like to be clean, see how you like living in a place withour running ,flushing water, ? unless you are going camping when you come, um sure u and friends are expecting running water no matter where you are staying, and we do have taxis, push bikes, motor bikes, mini-buses that also run, and don’t forget a lovely walk, its only twenty two square miles! dang, you’all can enjoy hiking aroudn the island, we in bermuda take a day off to walk the whole length of the island in one day !
All of you on here just run up ya mouths and don’t know What ya talking about.This issue is been going on for a few months, the toilets are not flushing,ya craping on top of crap, you can’t wash ya hands, so you think that’s cool, and that’s going on at all the depots. Management don’t care about us.So enough is enough.
Surely there are other ways to deal with this important issue rather than striking. Get the press involved. No one would expect the drivers to have to deal with a maintenance and health issue like that but you need to employ some other solutions.
When you complain and nothing gets done, what does one do? This was a health hazard. Then if the drivers all get sick from not being able to wash their hands, who will drive the busses then? This is disgusting. Why don’t you all jump on Gov’t for not dealing with this before it got to this point???
Stop using strikes to get what you want. Its selfish. Simple as that. You’re putting other people out in order to get what you want. Imagine if everybody went on strike to get what they wanted. The world would stop moving!
Yes – it would. And then maybe the powers that be would start listening FOR REAL.
You should learn the difference between a strike and sit out.
BUT..does their fellow “brothers & sisters” @ Public Works not care as well. As they took their time fixing the problem, as government buildings are fixed by Public Works first before seeking outside contracts.
Hey Dreamer workers have to get permission from management before they can do a job!
Wtf does plumbing have to do with driving a bus?!! Someone couldn’t flush their s*** this morning and got embarrassed from the stench?!! Get Ur @sses back to work and provide the service you are paid to do!! Stop being so selfishly childish and letting people who rely on public transport down!!
People like you are so ignorant! Would you want to s**t on top of someone else’s s**t and then not be able to wash your hands afterwards??? That is disgusting and a health hazard!
Think about it: if the drivers all get sick from these third-world conditions, who would drive the busses then???
S*** at home like the rest of us!!
Couldn’t tell you how often I’ve gotten to work to be told the bathrooms are out of commission. I didn’t cry and send myself home. These things happen…
S*** happens!!!
I don’t know what cave you crawled out of but the last time I checked you need water to flush. And let me c what you would do when you get to work and they tell you there is no running water every day for months and you have to sit over other people s**t to relieve yourself, would you do something about it or keep using it .
Here we go…another long hot summer..students taking exams…people trying to get to work…tourists really trying to get around to spend their much needed dollars…and they short of drivers! If there has been a plumbing problem (I really understand you need to use the bathroom )then for goodness sake managers fix the problem. A working bathroom is not a luxury. Is this the first time people are hearing about this by drivers walking out? Get a plumber…there are plenty willing and happy to work.
Hopefully the plumbing issues are resolved quickly.
Lack of access to toilet facilities is a both a matter of worker’s dignity and health and safety – I for one wouldn’t want to be in the path of a bus who’s driver is distracted by a full bladder!
I understand these issues have been brought to management’s attention for months now, so it’s a pity that the drivers have been left to such a resort as this.
If they’ve had months of this issue, they had time to notify the public. The way they did it (no warning) is calculated to cause maximum harm to the public.
I wouldn’t say it was ‘calculated to cause maximum harm to the public’, although I completely agree they could have, and should have, given the public some idea of the problems way in advance (and in fairness they were alluded to, just very cryptically – the union could do with some PR lessons).
I think it’s more likely that the workers kept getting assurances that the problem would be fixed, kept getting disappointed and finding the problem worse this morning they just decided enough was enough and that if Management wouldn’t address the problem after being alerted to it, then downing tools would force the issue to be addressed.
Unfortunate, and, yeah, they could’ve communicated the problem to the public in advance. However, I’m not going to get angry at the workers when the fault lies with management.
Hopefully the workers will learn from this feedback and be more pro-active in communicating issues with the public ahead of time.
Funny how they never pull this bulls*** the first day the cruise ships dock as then the visitors wouldn’t buy a bus pass……it’s always after so they get their money but we don’t get the services. The bus pass fee should be refunded to everyone for the day both visitors and residents. As long as they are still getting our money they don’t feel any pain.
Absolutely, the fault lies with management. Time for a management accountability discussion. Oh, I forgot, accountability does not exist. (which is why the problem has supposedly gone on for months.) But the no notice, island wide bus stoppage, was yet another ludicrous decision taken by the union workers.
Jonathan, so it’s only a coincidence that this happened when students were taking exams?
If that wasn’t intended to cause maximum disruption to the public I’d hate to see what people think a truly disruptive action is.
Management would never expose the issues that are in their establishments. But your to blind to see and know that.
Take a break! You’re behaving like it was a calculated act of terrorism.
Y’all are so dramatic, and inconsiderate. Chanting these people when they are having their basic human rights violated.
This is why Bermuda is the way it is. Such a disregard for your fellow man.
As someone who uses buses regularly, these drivers are mostly amazing people. They are doing one hell of a job with very little support from the governing factions.
Again, take a break!
exactly J Starling. It’s not often I agree with you, but you’re spot on this one. The Manager needs to be fired.
Really Mr. Starling…. Trying to validate these idiots actions!! The making of a fine politician. Go find a bush to piss on!!
The problem comrade, is that the drivers have “cried wolf” so many times, stranded school children and tourists alike on many occassions that even if this is a legitimate complaint, noone gives a sh*t..no pun intended.
Get back to work, provide the service for which you are paid and be happy you have a job.
WTH- again!!! I really think the Minister needs to fire the Director – I do not condone the nonsense these drivers are doing but this has to be a festering issue. The management needs to be held accountable. Where is the Director in all of this? yet the public suffers again!!
Bloody ridiculous!! Service suspended! Maaybe we should suspend the fare for a day!
deduct a days pay…no way they should be paid for a wildcat strike.
They dont get paid when they stroke u sound stupid
Is my 8 year old stranded at the bus stop right now? He left home at 750??
Well that should make you all want to get into Town on time so that you can go potty !
Yes bus drivers! Do what you need to protect your health and safety. Don’t worry about the heartless people in this comment section.
We heartless people are what gives them jobs. After today, I may not have a job. As my boss is tired of hearing either the bus didn’t come or it was late. Bus drivers need to grow up
If your constantly late, then thats your fault!
Seems the lateness is due to poor bus service not poor work ethic.
If the bus continues to not get you to work on time maybe you need to wake up a little earlier. Simple as that. Stop trying to stroll in right on the hour.
was the full hot ferry driver who was reinstated protecting the health and safety of his charges?
Or the guy that called in sick only to go work in another Dept. at the PTB? How about the one that refused to take a drug test? Yep…all Health & Safety concerns.
@ Campervan,
What does that have to do with bathrooms not working? I know your a wing worm, but stay on topic.
this is ridiculous seriously come on people rely on public transport our main industry in bermuda is tourism they rely on public transport ya’ll need to get it together
Because it’s not enough to have a holiday yesterday, and strike every time your day doesn’t go as planned.. Plumbing issues? Can someone please inform me as to how plumbing issues affect a gas pedal?
I’m annoyed to say the least,8 rely on the bus to get to work and I’ve been inconvenienced like the students and everyone else! This is freaking ridiculous.. How about you bus drivers take the people into consideration for once, stop being so damned selfish!
This is a joke, I am embarassed for Bermuda.
If DPT are having problems resolving their water issues via the normal channels then why not give an official strike notice? This allows time for the water problem to be fixed before a strike, so DPT get their water and no one is negatively impacted by a strike.
No one wins when they decide to act like this!
Know what your talking about before you comment, stike notice was issued already.
What date was the notice published? Was the notice given to the PTB, or to the public?
I’d also like to see this strike notice…
Presumably there wouldn’t be a report called “Story developing” if this strike was already known about in advance by the public at large. I think the other comments left by the public who were clearly unaware of the impending strike action speak loud enough.
Last week they cancelled buses because they didnt have enough drivers…. duhhhh
and now they are having water problems… how does water affect buses?
How are the kids to get to school, how are people suppose to get to work and tourist get around.
They say there are too many cars and bikes on the road… well you can see why… You can’t depend on the transport services of Bermuda……
Where is the Management?! The Manager needs to be fired. He should have first got a couple three Port-o-Potts delivered right away, then called a plumber. But no. In stead of making decisions, we have this. And let’s face it, the Unions are looking FOR ANY EXCUSE so DON’T give them one!
Can’t they just put two porta potties in locations where needed for the moment?
The Director is to blame
Someone in management needs to be fired as this type of thing happens far too often and never gets addressed in a timely manner. I do however think it is ridiculous that are locals and tourists have to be inconvenienced once again. These walkouts only hurt our economy more in the long term. I have been out of work for 30 months and these type of events only hurt my chances of finding a job in the long run.
I wonder when these drivers have plumping problems at their house do they go live in a hotel? NO u don’t! So go back to work and get over the fact the Plop isn’t in power no more!
…Meanwhile a child in Africa has not eaten for a week…….Government has plumbers…W&E can go and sort the problem…I for one would have issue with using a sh***y toilet especially if it’s been like that for weeks…….its unhealthy, unsanitary……If you can just give someone a lift…..Hopefully the problem will be rectified and everyone can get back to the business at hand…….#tooblessedtobestressed……
This is ridiculous if it is a bathroom matter- there’s hundreds of businesses around that would offer up a toilet for them- not to mention throwing a porta potty in at a moments notice! They are all still getting paid right now too I bet.
The drivers need to get OFF THE POT and ON THE BUS…..what a bunch of spoiled, entitled children.
The Plumbing issues maybe just prima facie of which there usually a bunch of outstanding issues that haven’t been rectified before such action is taken.
HOWEVER, if ALL issues aren’t rectified in the near future expect any island wide labor shutdown
AND to all my BIU brothers & sisters don’t ever forget our motto — UNITED WE STAND & DIVIDED WE FALL
Give us some warning so we can take our cruise business elsewhere. When the ships stop coming to Bermuda maybe you will get the message.
United we stand with nothing left to divide.
That is the reality of united we stand divided we fall.
Stopping things, stops things, it damages. Unions = damage
George Courtney Your an a**
asante sana for your most wonderful review of myself
Hey George, all or most of your issues are also handled by fellow union members. Why don’t you tell your brothers and sisters to do their jobs in an efficient and timely manner and most of your problems would fade away! Management put in the job requests but BIU workers are the ones that must execute and complete the jobs in an efficient and timely matter.
The bus operators have every right to decent bathroom facilities just like the rest of us! They have been asking for toilets that flush and not run over, and are rightly justified in their request! Fix the toilets!!
Sounds like they’re full of sh*t…the drivers that is!
This is a prime example of what is wrong in Bermuda. This is just another excuse to strike and hold the country hostage. Brothers and sisters please, you are putting another nail in the coffin. Children that attend public schools suffer. Foreign business must be out of their minds to want to come here when there are friendlier jurisdictions.
Another photo op for the new great premier. Mike’s got this. If they had tapes they could get restroom facilities.
So basically the buses aren’t running because PTB is full of crap?
This is sad. You left all those kids in the streets. At least get the kids to school, and the people to work, and THEN go home and watch world cup or whatever you are going to do. Have the least bit of respect for the people you provide an essential service to. You won’t get any respect by disrespecting others.
I know at least one school where the students are having their exams today. They went to bed at the appropriate time, ate a good breakfast and then oop’s no bus to take them to school. This makes a wonderful mindset to sit the exams!!!
bunch of dumba**es destroying our island
slap these dumb ****** some common sense!
what does it take!
YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU ARE RUINING OUR ISLAND YOU LAZY BUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a current bus driver, and although I undestand the publics frustration there are internal problems that would make the average employee cringe. Starting with the mismanagement. Having worked in the corporate sector for over 10yrs, I have never in my life witnessed such a mess with those who have been placed in upper management positions. What is needed in my opinion is a guest worker who has the skills in managing a Mass Transportation Service to be hired to correct the many issues facing this dept. Presently workers in the St. Georges Depot are forced to walk to the Police Barracks to use to wash room, alternativly men are reliving themselves in the trees. Buses are infested with roaches, the list goes on and on. So please understand!!! It’s a mess.
all the best to y’ll, Personally, I would have preferred to do an island wide shut at the beginning of the off tourist months as to not inconvenience the tourists to rectify all the labor issues.
However, if that doesn’t work than Bda will be going through more labor hell for years to come
While you make a good case for bus drivers why not give notice so the public could be prepared and you might even get public support! Assuming that you have already voiced your concerns with your union reps this looks like a huge failure of the union and the management to get things done in a timely manner. The whole point of membership is that they handle these issues for you so you dont have to do it yourself!
“A few months back I was very impressed with Chris Furtbert and the way that he informed us”
it’s obvious the bda public en masse didn’t heed his words
The st George’s police barracks being 30 feet away. I undress the frustration. It is leaving kids waiting that sticks in my craw.
Understand not undress!
i dont think anyone commenting on here would have a problem standing on the same side as the drivers if the conditions you mention above are accurate and as you say.
however, most level-headed bermys have a problem with, time and time again, is the way the situation has been handled. i have a car, and i only found out that buses werent running from listening to the radio as i was on Reid Street Extension on my way in to work. imagine how those at the extremeties of the island felt as they were waiting at their bus stop not knowing that a bus was not on its way to pick them up?!
why wait until now. Does the public deserve to know? we pay the management, Opps forgot they are protected by the union. so nobody can discipline them, fire them, since all BPSU will be on strike. So admit it the union created and protects the monster that live within and beyond.
Sounds like nepotism is an issue internally.
If this is the case, then there are certainly issues that need to be tackled. However, what we the public hear are not these things. We hear what sound like petty greivances by spoiled workers.
Wouldn’t it be in the employees best interests to handle things a bit differently?
Maybe have the union do their job? Write up the list of greivances and turn them over management/government at the same time has turning the list over to the media.
Public outcry is very effective. Why not put it to work for you, rather than against you?
I do agree with this although most of the public are brain washed and lose all touch with reality. I do think there should be CCTV on the bus too and have the public have access to it. This should give people a wakeup call. Being bus driver is not a nice job any more. Not like the old days, now there is a lots of drama to deal with and bad attitudes and if your are around it for too long you become just like your environment if you are not strong enough. There was a time when I was on the bus and it broke down and the people on the bus was getting mad at the driver i had to bring the people back to reality and tell that the driver was not a robot and was going to be late just like them. i cant haddle dealing with stuff like that every day.
Governments are clueless. They shouldn’t be in the transportation business or any other business. There’s always a lack of accountability, inefficiency and waste. This dept. should be under private contract and subject to minimum performance and quality standards. As a matter of fact, most government departments should be privatized in order to ensure that they are run properly and that the slackers are weeded out.
Operation “Pressure Cooker”……Part 6.
Section 1 as read with section “P” fluid venting and relief valve systems.
(the gall of these lutt).
ATTN: to those people who r downing the bus drivers Shut up and go drive the bus
Hand over the keys…many of us would!!
All we ask is that the kids are taken care of…at least…
Maybe their parents can drop them to school?
They already have a day long break with someone else raising and educating their children.
So students can’t get to school to write exams?
Couldn’t they have at least done the school runs first? They can surely use the restrooms at st George’s police club and the incinerator
I do not sympathize with taking wildcat strike action as we have a right to reliable transport but lets not jump to too quick a conclusion. Has it occurred to anyone that the shortage of drivers last week may be related to illness caused by contaminated water and there is fear that more could be affected? We need to dig into the causes and report it to the public. Also, Govt. has a responsibility to provide timely information beyond just an announcement that services are down. After all, that’s why we pay for a Dept. of Communications office.
Seriously, SO tired of unions and associations bullying the general public. I don’t doubt that there is an issue that needs to be addressed, and it is entirely possible that repeated requests have been ignored. Regardless, notice periods exist for a reason. There is no logical or legitimate excuse for leaving people stranded on the side of the road with no notice. If I acted like this my parents would have cut my tail! When are the powers that be going to recognize that Bermuda is not the centre of the universe, and that every action has a REaction. Do you realize how ignorant and childish we appear to he rest of the world when we act like this? Not to mention that we are teaching our children that if you don’t get what you want, just stomp your foot and refuse to play until you do. Lovely. Come on Bermuda, shape up and act like adults! There are ways to achieve things and this is NOT the right way. For the sake of our future, let’s get it together!
Im reading a lot of short fused comments .
There are many things to review before making a harsh remark here.
Both sides need to be understanding of the other and common sense must prevail.
all partys should be working TOGETHER to keep the busses running And staff satisfied that the matter is in hand with the fastest resolution.
Look I’ve worked in construction for years. Nothing will piss you off more than not having anywhere to relieve yourself.It is easy for everyone to blame the bus drivers. Yeah I don’t like what they did either hundreds of students rely on the buses, most of which have end of year finals coming up but its not solely their fault. Imagine your work toilet wasn’t working, and you tell the higher ups and nothing changes, how would that make you feel. For the longest while i asked “why are these bus drivers acting like they have something up their a**?” now I know they did. So why don’t we help these people get a working bathroom so everyone can get to where they need to go.
well if u worked in construction u are familiar with a 5 gallon bucket then …yes?
A reminder.
The World Cup is being shown on tv. Connect the dots people!
I see a lot of ire toward the Director- who’s the facilities manager up there? Is it W&E? Because if it is, there should be some accountability from them. The Director cannot control W&E, it’s a different ministry altogether. So maybe let’s get a little clarity and fact before we fire up the torches and pick up our pitchforks. I don’t think they have their own FM, so it begs some furhter investigation before accusations are made.
Great! Once again our tourist and locals will be affected. So great for this lovely small island for this to keep happening.
Bus drivers have no consideration. A lot of people rely on the bus service especially seniors and children. You guys are selfish. What does the plumbing have to do with driving buses?! You find any excuse to not work…hope you don’t get paid. You obviously do not appreciate the fact that you have a job. There are many out there that should take your jobs as they are not working and would be grateful to have a job!!!!!
Dear bus drivers, you are a group of spoiled children.
To leave parents with no warning on a Tuesday after the holiday is disgusting. CedarBridge had exams … I get your demand for filtered bottle water and a toilet that works but maybe a little notice would have been nice and more considerate. Please let us know when your bottled water arrives at our expense.
My stomach hurts for the tourist who purchased Bus Passes and are now stuck in Dockyard and at Hotels. Let’s not forget that if you see tourist needing a ride, please assist them.
I don’t believe you people no one says any when the schools close down when they have no water or bathrooms.or when your job dose have them as well so what makes them any different. They have to use them to and this has been going on for months and they have not done nothing about it . they have even bolted the bathroom in St George and if you don’t believe us you are more than welcome to come and see for yourself.
Use the toilets at RAA and the Airport. They do it any other time.
It is a pain in the groin and a** I know but after reading all these comments; some ‘HEADS’ should “ROLL’.
Now Mr. Dunkley here is a question for you my old friend.
GOT MILK?
Can’t wait for the bumbling Furbert to hold a press conference……
That will be next.
I’m hearing word the buses are resuming operations.
Any confirmation by anyone else?
The buses may be but the drivers need relief………
I need a rum…..
Potential options:
A union (BPSU) manager has messed up but the union (BPSU) protects him/her from any discipline etc.
Union (BIU) bus drivers are being cooerced by politically minded union (BIU) management to walk off
Union (BPSU) supervisor is unable to make a day to day management decision to get toilets repaired because the Union (BPSU) manager is not a trained manager but was put in place because he/she has been around for ever and there is no were else to go but up the chain of command.
Union (BIU) supervisors are inefficient in scheduling repairs, do not even understand basic scheduling
Union (BIU) plumbers are actually not competent to make repairs but will blame it on the union (BIU) supervisors for not having parts
Union (BIU) negotiators have created an un manageable system (with no schedule 8 years running) for union (BPSU) management
personally I would bet it is all of the above.
Looks the the Union motto stands – United we fall.
Exactly.
These bozos are talking about “Management” and the “Management” are their own fellow union members. Higher ranking maybe, but still YunYun. I note that a works and engineering were called in to fix the problem. How tough is that a call to make? But, YunYun management screws up and everyone has to suffer.
These bus drivers are lucky that I was still able to get to school on time to sit an exam!!! They would use any petty situation as an excuse to not work.
This messed up my free bus ride this morning
That bathroom is disgusting!
If public works repairs the plumbing how does this have anything to do with PTB managment. Being a civil servant I see this happens all the time, managers take the flack for servicing Ministries. The people who the bus drivers are mad at are probably the same ones who they march next to when there is an insustrial strike. bus drivers ,plumbers, etc are all industrials so be mad at your brothers. Also since this is an internal service issue between two Ministries why is the public held hostage. Why couldnt a civilised conversation take place between PTB management, public works management, permanent secretaries etc. It should have remained an “in-house” issue.
If there was a problem with the toilets then it appears this wasn’t an “all-of-a-sudden” issue. Don’t just decide you’re going to go on strike and inconvenience the entire island! That is selfish. The bus system needs to be made an essential service so these people can stop abusing their rights. I am not saying they shouldn’t go on strike for things like this. I am saying they should have to give ample warning for when they will be striking. In order to let the public make alternate plans. In fact, letting your supervisors no you will be striking “2 weeks on tuesday” or whatever date you decide, will probably force your boss to get the problem fixed before the strike even happens! Its a win-win! Stop doing this childish act of every time you don’t get what you want you just sit down like a toddler til you get what you want.
I was a member of the Bermuda Industrial union for some 41 years; been in many labour disputes; walked many picket lines; been a union shop steward; sat in many negotiations and JC meetings involving union and management. I can assure you to take strike action is never taken lightly.
I know that the bus drivers have been long suffering on this issue and to hear the stories of having to go between buses to do your business may be very well all right for males or even slip into the trees to do the same; and if any man says he has never done that he is telling a lie. But for females; this would be a problem. What is this got to do with driving a bus? Well it is a safety and health issue and even if driving a bus is to be made an essential service? Safety and health would trump that. Flying an airliner may be considered to be top of the line in terms of transportation; a real glory job. But if that toilet is not working and if there is no running water on that plane; than it will not fly and the crew and in particular the captain will make that call; no matter what time table is disrupted or whose travel plans have been compromise. Take a good look at the toilet conditions that led off with this story and ask yourself would you work under those conditions without protest?
Exactly Alvin, to expect anybody to work without a running toilet is reprehensible in 2014. FIrst, Management or the Director needs to be fired. But why didn’t the Union say, “If the problem doesn’t get fixed by xyz we will strike on day abc.”? It seems to me all of this could have been avoided. Let’s not forget it’s the poorest in our society and children who get affected by public transportation strikes.
Alvin, you were a member of the BIU? Shocking
What does this have to do with drivers in other routes??? Any excuse.Oh by the way by the looks of the pictures the state of the bathrroms did not just happen,this is over a long period of time…Oh and by the way my son was due to get on the bus for a school outing,but as the saying goes..If does not affect you,who cares.
I couldn’t agree with you or anyone else more than what you’ve written…Though the condition of the facilities they show just didn’t occur overnight
There has to be someone getting paid to care for them and of course, a supervisor to make show that person/s are doing the damn job correctly!
so where are those bathrooms and aren’t they locked and only used by the drivers? If so, who is really responsible for the damage and cleaning. The public ones on around the corner of the terminal seemed better when I went to use them. This is terrible for all concerned, including passengers, tourist, workers and drivers.
FIRE everyone of them…there are MANY Bermudians more than capable of driving the buses and they are not interested in giving money to furby’s biu.
A systemic problem that has been going on for as long as I can remember.
Bad management by senior heads for years. The ones that retired have promoted and made the so-called upper management.
Most Government employees have been an extention of the BIU/PLP. Fact.
The food trough is getting bare and situations like this are more by design and neglect.
Shalom.
Question; How long where the bathrooms in this condition? This happened in 3weeks? Don’t you have to be 25 years and over to drive bus? So basically ya’ll been peeing straight for how many years now? This is plain dirt! Granted I don’t think you should have to use facilities under these conditions but correct me if I’m wrong these are not public rest rooms they are designated to the bus drivers right, so you the “bus drivers” assisted in making it look this way no? How hard is it to clean the hell up after yourself, nobody could get a bottle of tilex and spray it down? If your all adults how about take some responsibility for the way this looks! Come on if you have to use this restroom regularly would it hurt to try and keep it it tidy, and ask the same of your fellow employees? The conditions are by no means suitable, but again how did it get this bad. Would you allow your bathrooms at home to get to this? It should not be your issue to fix it, but come on how long it took it to get that way and why couldn’t you as coworkers work together and keep it decent? I find it very hard to believe this has just began to look like this……Little clorox wipe here, lil tilex or comet spritz there. IJS ugghhh….Make it an essential service…….and pick the battles wisely because in case you haven’t noticed this country is broke and we can’t afford little ill premature tantrums to make it worse. Doesn’t the Act say in order to be paid you must work before and after a holiday to receive pay? Mmmm well whomever didn’t show up for their shift this morning, those funds can be used to call the plumber!
Solidarity my foot. I work for govt and we spent and entire summer in an office building with no airconditioning and the building had no windows did other depts go on strike in solidarity. NO!!! WHY? CAUSE WE SUCKED IT UP AND GOT ON WITH THE PPLS WORK. AT YOUR SERVICE BERMUDA. Yes the toilets look bad but how much of that is your own doing? Like a nasty tenant complaining cause the landlords won’t fix problems they caused.
Retired Anon if you live long enough it will happen to you. But the BIU will always be family and I still have a connection; I continue to write a column for the Workers Voice- The Other Alternative-
Are some of you people for real these are people that have to go to a restroom or mess up there health by holding till they can get to one,that’s if they make it with your family members on the bus then what . I don’t think any HUMAN BEING should have to go though that. And by the way for the people that don’t know you need water to flush . Da!
Bernews where is the donate button. I will donate for this type of reporting. I now see clearly the poor conditions they are talking about. My body is program to go to the bath room at 4 pm every day. If I had to go to that mess at 4:00 every day I would not be a happy worker. Sad but, good thing I work for ACE and not government. Reminds me of the days where I would go home to use the bath room.
If the working conditions & salaries of bda’s employee’s were up to par than bda wouldn’t have to worrying about strikes taking place would it