Bus Service Resumes After Industrial Action
[Updated] There are numerous unofficial reports there may be some form of issue with the bus service this morning [Feb 16] and we have reached out to officials for further information and will update as able.
Update 9.58am: A Government spokesperson said, “The Department of Public Transportation [DPT] advises the public that there is an interruption in the public bus service this morning due to industrial action taken by the Supervisors.
“The Bermuda Public Services Union and the Supervisors are currently in discussion with Management of DPT. The Department apologies for any inconveniences caused by the disruption. An update will be provided before noon today.”
Update 12.10pm: A Government spokesperson said, “The public is advised that discussions are continuing between the Department of Public Transportation [DPT] Management and the Bermuda Public Services Union [BPSU].
“Transportation for school students will not be impacted as arrangements are already in process through contractual arrangements with the Bermuda Minibus Association. Again, the Department apologises for any inconveniences caused by the disruption.”
Update 4.25pm: A Government spokesperson said, “The public is advised that the Department of Public Transportation [DPT] Management is in the process of redeploying the public bus service.
“It is expected that the service will be operational by 7:00 p.m. this evening. Again, the Department apologises for any inconveniences caused by the disruption.”
The issue with the Bus Service, is that it’s sh*t.
Is this illegal? What is government p going to do to compensate all those who couldn’t get to work this morning? Perhaps a class action lawsuit against the supervisors is required to end these wildcat strikes.
Come on law firm , pick this up , do it pro Bono.
True Story
I’d have called it utter cr*p, but I won’t quibble with you.
Is it possible that they’re rejecting the idea that they still get paid even with the huge numbers of cancelled runs ? ?
Given how utterly crap the service is on a normal day, how will we know the difference? Pity folks who depend on the “service”.
Side question, has anyone seen a driver ever with both hands on the wheel? The left hand seems to be always on the change thingy.
Outsource the lot.
Really, hmmm!
Stop Nit picking!
I don’t think it would be “nitpicking” if I was waiting for a bus right now.
No you are not waiting for a bus, you are running your mouth (as usual) in comment sections on websites. Go get a life.
So you have no issues with wild cat strikes and the non-delivering of taxpayer funder services?
Sounds like you have the privilege not to rely on public transport.
Maybe try some empathy that others that do.
I passed a guy this morning in a bus stop in Paget when I was heading east. When I went back past 45 minutes later heading west he was still there looking anxious. In retrospect I should have stopped and told him that for some mysterious reason the buses were out.
Merely pointing out that if I relied on the bus service, I’d be in trouble.
Mixitup
you are running your mouth (as usual) in comment sections on websites. Go get a life.
you are a hypocrite.
Most people drive with one hand relax lady.
Try driving with one hand when you take your driver’s test and let us know what happens .
I don’t think statistics would support this statement, LDW. But, if you are correct, you are still wrong in suggesting the habit is acceptable.
if one of these clowns runs off the road with a bus full of kids because he/she wasn’t exercising due care, what would you say?
Totally unacceptable.
Although, it’s not likely, seeing that the buses hardly ever run.
So. Much. PLP. Win.
Oh well. It’s not like it’s an essential service or anything.
This is ridiculous. Does a driver have a hang nail that may stop him from driving?
This union is a real pain in the a^%.
Don’t worry our Premier is on a 10 minute call with the United Nations to see if he can get the buses on track!
you win the internet today!
Well if it’s a management situation the public will never know as it’s managements responsibity to inform public.
This is the start to Government problems as there’s another brewing in another department.
They hire these heads with no managerial expierence and its going boil over.
Probably a trial run for when we get visitors back…
This is really s^&%y. They don’t give a crap about the public. Their issues have nothing to do with us. This was my last day visiting Bermuda and had walked to town hoping to catch the bus to Horseshoe Bay to get a last glimpse of the beach. Thanks for ruining it Bermuda Bus service. In the USA this would never happen. Not even in a snow storm. Very crappy service. Thats why no tourist here.
Sorry that you had to suffer through that on your final day.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/12/04/fairfax-connector-workers-go-strike-thursday/%3FoutputType%3Damp
A quick google search shows me however that bus strikes do happen in the USA.
Also, I doubt that the fact the bus drivers are striking is a significant contributor to our tourism woes when compared to, say, the ongoing Pandemic and almost every country advising against non-essential travel and making it a huge headache to do any travel in general.
LOL, typical Bermudian….always making excuses for the pathetically poor service offered in Bermuda.
You have pink sand….nothing else!
Dude….Chill…My husband and I are currently on vacation here as well, and we are also annoyed with the inconvenience, but don’t be such a jack a$$. You make Americans look terrible. This actually happens quite often in the US. Unions go on strike 24/7!!
babe…learn how to use a message board….you look like a complete fool.
saud,
Your anti-Bermudian comments are (again) insulting. If you do not like Bermuda, leave. If you do not like the comments on Ber->News, read USA Today.
Joe bloggs…you’re typically arrogant and ignorant.
I am Bermudian, Do not tell me to go elsewhere, unless you’re willing to take your garbage, and leave as well.
If you don’t like my comments, don’t read them. hypocrite.
That’s was 36 – 2 or whatever the score is gets you. Break out the Alpo and car tire shoes ready.
People left stranded because of this.
This is unfair.
Discussions could have taken place in their own time, not when people are trying to get to work.
This has to stop.
Will the PLP have the balls to fine or prosecute for this illegal action.
I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting on that! Pathetic is what they, and their pitiful union is. In EVERY single other employment circumstance, the majority of them would be seeking employment right now! Not in our ridiculous island!
Please remember, it’s not the operators striking. The Supervisors and their Director are having a dispute. The operators showed up to work but were not assigned a bus. Stop bashing our operators.
Then perhaps the supervisors should pay the drivers today and not the taxpayers….
Thanks for apologizing but it’s more than an inconvenience, without a scheduled bus showing up means you are late for work while you desperately scatter around to find alternative transportation which is stressful and a non-understanding employer makes it worse. Whatever the dispute is don’t take it out on us. One more issue with the buses I can understand that you don’t have enough buses please stop using that excuse every problem has a solution. I’m going to be most unpopular with my next suggestion. Who would agree that must young people own a mobile phone some which are worth more than $300. In order to purchase more buses, here’s the solution charge school children $20 per month for a bus pass, increase the price of a bus pass from $69 to $70 and ask seniors to pay $10 per month to ride the bus. PTB please go electronic so that cardboard passes are not necessary. One last thing it’s dishonest to take payment for a bus pass and to be told that you cannot ride the bus.
As a visitor here myself, I sympathize with Mina’s disappointment at the unexpected work stoppage. But the quality of the bus service is not a significant factor in my decision to visit.
It is true that there are industrial actions — “strikes” — from time to time in the US. What is vanishingly rare there is a surprise work stoppage. Both sides would seem to have an interest in informing the public about the dispute and potential stoppage. The workers want pressure from the public to help settle the dispute before actually losing any work. And the company wants to keep their customers informed so those customers can make alternate plans.
So, US industrial actions are almost always pre-announced, which improves the chance that the dispute will be settled before service is interrupted. The exceptions are called “wildcat strikes” and usually result from the workers reacting to a change in working conditions (such as requiring workers to do additional work without additional pay) or a failure to take seriously a complaint by workers (such as an egregiously abusive manager).
I know nothing at all about the dispute that led to today’s industrial action. Probably it falls into one of the categories which lead to wildcat strikes in the US. But I do understand how surprising it is for a visiting US resident, that she encounter a wildcat strike interrupting a vital service.
Yup, life in paradise continues to get more stressful, no refund again for lack of bus rides today. They have my $69 for February. What about tomorrow? Nope. Gov’t gets tons of money, gives back less to the public in timely service with many things and expects the Public and businesses to just SWALLOW all of it!! Rude people.
Unbelievable. Bermuda held hostage at the drop of a hat. Just wake up in the morning and say F%&! it, ace boy peed me off,, so No Buses for you, one whole day!!
It’s like the early 80′s all over again.
If it’s paradise, why are you all so miserable?
Back on at 7pm…..it was a nice day for golf I suppose.
i trust they all had a nice aid day off
How interesting. We get “A Government spokesperson” to tell us that public bus service is no more, but Minister Wayne Furbert is always telling us how bad our economy is, Why the difference?
It is way past time to privatise this service. Government isn’t capable of dealing with this mess.