Interruption In Bus Service On Monday
[Updated: The Ministry confirm there will be an "interruption in bus service" on Monday, 16 August]
The Bus Division of the B.I.U “put forward a motion that management must post the winter rosters for pick on Monday, August 16th” and “failing to do so will result in the membership to stand down the service until such time that they do so,” the BIU confirmed this evening.
A BIU spokesperson said, “There is a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Bermuda Government that also affects Public Transportation however the Minister of Transportation and the Management Team of DPT have decided that they are going to completely ignore the Sections of the CBA without the agreement of the Bus Division.
“The Bus Division of the B.I.U. held a meeting Friday, August 13th, 2021 at the Dr. E.F. Gordon Hall at the B.I.U. Headquarters which was well attended by its members.
“The members put forward a motion ‘that management must post the winter rosters for pick on Monday, August 16th, 2021 and failing to do so will result in the membership to stand down the service until such time that they do so.’
“The Bus Division of the BIU would like to apologize in advance to the public for any inconvenience that this may cause.”
Update Sunday, August 16, 9.55pm: A Government spokesperson said, “The Department of Public Transport [DPT] is advising passengers of an interruption in bus service tomorrow, Monday, 16 August, as a result of industrial action by the Bermuda Industrial Union.
“Buses will not be on scheduled routes beginning tomorrow morning. DPT is recommending passengers use alternative transportation tomorrow. The Department appreciates the public patience and will provide regular updates.”
Update Aug 16, 12.30pm: Shadow Minister of Labour Jarion Richardson said, “Labour actions during the reign of this labour government are becoming far too frequent. How can the political arm of the labour movement be so out of touch with labour? Equally, how can labour have so many problems that strikes are frequent?
“This labour dispute has something to do with winter bus schedules not being published. Have they been drafted? If they haven’t, tell us what the problem is.
“Yet again, going about our lives is being ransomed while our jobs are put at risk. It’s as if own-goals is the strategy.
“Someone, whether it’s the government or labour, needs to get a grip on our labour relations.
“Either that, or the public will finally decide that it’s better to get reliable service through privatization rather a protected labour force.
“And that slippery slope will have long lasting changes to Bermuda from which there is little chance of going back.”
They need to know their winter roster in mid-August? Why? They cancel buses every day, it’s not like they stick to rosters to begin with.
High five on that one
Hmmm….the Union has often stops service with no advance notice to have a last minute “meeting” and that is deemed acceptable behavior. But they are going to stop working because a schedule for NOVEMBER isn’t posted yet?
This silly and selfish behavior, that seems to be encouraged and supported by “The Poker Star”, is the reason why I wont get gas at their station anymore or support the union in any way. The BIU need new leadership from someone that is not power hungry and someone that is flexible and reasonable. The BIU is no longer the RESPECTED union of Ottiwell Simmons and those before him. They built the union and fought for change. They built the union and its assets. What has pokerstar built, purchased, or invested in that has benefited the membership?
We have several Unions on this island, and the vast majority have the leadership in place to keep their accounts in order, are run like a business, and know the importance of give and take. Why is the BIU run like a high stakes poker game?
We have all been around playground bullies before. We had our lunch money taken, been knocked to the ground for no reason, and sucker punched because we might be physically weaker. But we know how the story ultimately ends.
Amen
Maybe putting a former Jet Blue gate agent in charge of transport wasn’t Burt’s finest moment? Almost as bad as putting a DJ into legal affairs!
You mean the guy that was going to sue jet blue for wrongful dismissal.
All blanks.
The talent pool is very shallow. You have to use what ya got.
Giggles
He was the Assistant Manager for jet Blue and has a pilots license. How about the OBA placing a man, who we just learned refills the cereal aisles for The Market Place as a Senator.
Does that cereal use titty milk.
Unlike the rest of you people at least he has a job and not on the PLP “dole” or “F&F” payroll!
My understanding is that they are usually selected a month before schools open
What a bunch of petulant little cry babies. Are they paid to drive a bus? Show up do your 6 hour shift ( lunch hour and break periods reduce 8 to 6 ) get your route get your bus and DO WHAT WE THE PUBLIC pay you to do. Or quit so we can PRIVATIZE. Furbut and his children holding us to ransom TIRED OF IT!!
Why is it that the public are always made to suffer? PLP and BIU are getting us nowhere (even when the busses do run).
And tonite idiot bus driver, assuming you have a position too as you where wearing a white shirt. Sunday morning 850 am, you just kept going at coxs hill roundabout , yes i was on your right incase your oblivious to your left and right.
Its wonder the buses and services are in the condition there in, idiot.
As a government official I can only help via a formal compliant and a bus #
Thank you!
Thanks for this, where do i make the complaint?
And i want to say it was bus 1902, 850 am Sunday August 15th, coxs hill roundabout.
Just another excuse not to work, privatize it.
BIU has run Bermuda since their inception.
You reap what you let be sowed.
The talent pool is very shallow. You have to use what ya got.
“There is a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Bermuda Government that also affects Public Transportation however the Minister of Transportation and the Management Team of DPT have decided that they are going to completely ignore the Sections of the CBA without the agreement of the Bus Division.”
Sauce for the Goose is also sauce for the Gander. The BIU ignores the CBA when it wants to, why should the PLP Government feel bound by it?
Bermuda order of merit. 1) bus drivers 2) garbage collectors 3) dockers 4) biu 5) plp 6) oba, how long can we stay afloat?
Can we please ask the United Kingdom to provide assistance in how to run our public transportation? They manage an amazing bus system in London and they could probably do it very easily for such a small place as Bermuda. I am sure they would provide assistance and training so that we can learn how to do it going forward. Come on Bermuda, this is not rocket-science!
Privatize!!!
They all need to quit tripping! They don’t care about what inconvenience they cause the people that patronize them. They seem to be unaware of where their business comes from! I would love to see this public service boycotted in efforts to encourage smarter choices when they feel the need to address and resolve things. There are issues everywhere, nothing is perfect. Disruption is what you came up with?? Meanwhile residents have to roll over every time tapping out and pouting?? They a sorry?? Come better!!!
Privatize the bus service. Until it is done the pubic have no influence. Boycott today? They still get paid. Privatize and maybe a boycott means they don’t get paid. Same with garbage. Recyclables is privatized and runs on time so why not garbage? W & E and Education too. Millions of dollars of savings.
Agreed ! As soon as the W&E workers see a dark cloud they race into the trailer until the sun comes back out even with no rain ! On the other hand you see Watlington Water staff working in the rain . All private road works get completed much faster because they actually WORK !!
I say privatize and give the W&E staff the opportunity to work for them , that will clean up the good workers from the bad .
Privatize now.
Shameful and pathetic. If they went on strike we wouldn’t be any worse off. Call their bluff. Twats
No work no pay should be what happens but they will get paid as a reward for irresponsible behavior.
It is purely the Government to blame for all these Strikes, not the workers! The Government NEVER has a plan set for scheduling, Repairs or budgeting! Workers do not just go on strike for no reason. Government is lazy, laid back and does not care about the public. This is evident in many issues facing Bermudians today. Who holds these politicians and this government to task? Not the Union’s fault either. If government did not dictate stupidity and not follow what the founding fathers fought for and put into writing, we would not be having Industrial action every two months on this Island! Privatize is NOT the answer! Your taxes will go up further to pay to have this done. You need to hold the bosses and politicians to account and demote them if they can’t produce. Most Workers are willing. I know. Take it from the watchful eye. I turn my head often in disgrace of what I see. Leadership by management is almost NON-EXISTANT.
“Who holds these politicians and this government to task?”
The Bermudian population does. And at 30 to 6 it should be obvious that the majority of Bermudians want the PLP to form the Government.
If there is blame to be had it is on us, the Bermudian population, for putting ” these politicians and this government” in power
Everyone who Says PRIVATIZE! Is ignoring the fact that you are handling the Government A PASS CARD. You need to take the issues by the horns and hold the Minister to TASK and demand the rectifying of the situation. It is under ‘his’ watch. He is to blame. He is just passing the buck. People are not dumb. Yelling privatize is an emotional decision because a person is upset. Take proper action or write something of solution to benefit all. All problems have roots and bad roots need to be rooted out. Government is full of bad roots and nobody takes responsibility at the top.
Buses here are the worst services I have ever see ,grumpy people.go to buy bus tickets you get dirty looks cause you interup their phone conversation. Drivers with attitude, say good morning an they grunt. Get your tickets from the Ferry terminal they are very nice there. I think buses should be private owned companies and the public’s service
If you privatize the bus service (service being a pun) the BIU will still call on their members to strike..so what will you gain.
“If you privatize the bus service (service being a pun) the BIU will still call on their members to strike..so what will you gain.”
A private bus company would not be engaged in trying to win the next election. A private bus company would be focused on making money, which means value for service. It would not put up with the BIU trying to manage the business.
Stevedoring Services makes money as a union shop, there is no reason why a private bus company could not also make money if it had the right management team.
Spoilt rotten the whole lot of them…..miss the days of the UBP 1970s when things ran properly and had proper people to run things.
Oh come on…..the bus drivers want to see the schedule before school starts so they know when to call in sick and drive their own mini-buses for the school runs. Have you ever noticed the increased number of bus route cancellations when the mini-buses are doing school runs? Wake up people, line the dots up.
As a tourist I have to say that this is so annoying. As a bus user back home in Canada to get to work every day and I would be so upset about this happening to me. People need to get around and this was childish.