Industrial Action, No Bus Service On Friday
[Updated] There is an “interruption in bus service today [Dec 16] due to industrial action by the Bermuda Industrial Union,” the Ministry has confirmed.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Transport is advising passengers of an interruption in bus service today due to industrial action by the Bermuda Industrial Union. The Department of Public Transportation is recommending passengers use alternative transportation.
“The Department appreciates and shares the public’s frustration at the interruption of services and will provide an update later today.”
Update 6.13pm: Shadow Transport Minister Susan Jackson said, “It’s irresponsible students have been stranded yet again while bus drivers down tools and walk off the job.
“Here we are at the busiest time of year and bus passengers have the added burden of not knowing whether bus transportation is available.
“Public transportation is a vital public service. Some of our most vulnerable are being held at ransom and government appears to be on the back foot.
“Government’s responsibility is to insure safe and reliable public transportation. This happens often and one must question whether or not this Government has the ability to resolve these matters once and for all.”
Update 10.14pm: There will be no bus service on Friday.
A spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Transport advises that there will be no bus service on Friday, 17 December. The Bermuda Industrial Union’s Bus Division withdrew labour earlier today.
“The Department of Public Transportation is recommending that bus passengers plan to use alternative transportation tomorrow. The Department appreciates and shares the public’s frustration at the interruption of services and will provide a further update tomorrow.”
Update Dec 17, 10.57am: The Minister held a press conference, you can view it here. In summary, he said they believe that the industrial action is unlawful, a letter has been delivered to the BIU urging them to return to work by noon today, and the Government “will uphold its no work no pay policy.”
Looks like they want time off to do their Christmas shopping.
this is pure BS that lot need to be fired en mass. I for one am sick and tired of being held hostage by a bunch of childish people with the brain power of a skunk.God forbid they ever had to do a real job. I know its not all b ut as the saying goes a few bad apples can ruin the barrel. Karma will come
This all can be fixed, new electric busses with GPS SELF DRIVING Capacity. We could use the money that the union collects from there pay checks/ and there paycheques.
Never sick, no strikes for drunk boat captains. And no more I don’t feel like turning up for (work)
Bus problems solved.
Then something like that for this (government)
The BIU gets its collective knickers in a twist and calls a Bus Strike.
The buses go out.
Many unrelated workers who rely on the buses to get to/from work are stranded, so as a result many other businesses are forced to work with reduced staff or to close down.
And the BIU wonders why its actions don’t get much public support? It doesn’t really need a PhD to figure it out!
To see a few tourist from the ship that is in port sitting at the Bus Stop looking at their watch, and locals, I was wondering what was up, I would have given them a ride if I knew.
FIRE them all!!!! Sick of their nonsense.
It’s not the drivers at PTB it’s the Union which refuses to adhere to standard protocol.
Shouldn’t there be a twenty- one day notice of intention to strike?
At some point the people need to say enough is enough, by now any sympathy the public has for the workers and union must be at a critical low as these wildcat strikes inconvenience and fristrate and harm the general public not the government t they are in dispute with.
And you wonder why our shores are void of tourist? They can go other locations without the incovuenince thrust upon them by a rogue Union who clearly run this country not the government.
Need a good lawyer. Can we the general inconvenienced and tired of this illegal action not sue the union or its collective numpty. Start at the top with screamer F. It is incomprehensible in this day and age that those children are not held responsible for this cra+
…and here we go again….
What is the source of the latest outrage du jour? Wankers.
Oh! Come on! Why?! What’s the reason now? Government Workers stranded as well. What’s Gov’t going to do now? Thanks for the end of the year gift! Lousy Government! Can’t take care of it’s own people! Where’s my TAXES GOING? What about my Bus Pass?! Never hear of bus strikes when I’m out in the UNITED STATES! Always
Bermuda! Makes me sick to live here. Too much Stupidity in whatever Government gets in.
And wait till the electric buses come.
They will blame it on BELCO……..
Get out now folks…..
Run, dont walk.
Don’t worry the rogue drivers will find a way to disable the bus to get time off.
Votem back in.
Buses.
1.2 to doc
800 under miscellaneous
Harbor road wall
Where’s the cedar
I,m sooo sick of how this Island is being run. I love and want to remain here as a Bermudian … but i will reluctantly be looking into other options ….. so much wasted taxpayers money from mismanaged projects , bad decisions from inexperienced ministers and no one is held accountable !!
When is enough going to be enough? This won’t end until we PRIVATIZE!
Another shining example of what 30-6 gives the public. As long as it is not whitey causing the problem there is no outcry. This self destruct is so sad.
Put on big boy pants like Regan did with the ATC’s. FIRE all of them, use the regiment and mini buses while a COMPLETE new NON UNIONIZED crew are brought on line. ONLY hire those ( and there are quite a few ) who WANT TO WORK and offer good steady ons time service to US THE PUBLIC
These people are hurting Bermuda. Grow up people. I am ashamed of this union.
While I understand that there will always be work issues surely we can come up with a better way to resolve these issues other than these random stoppages.
We really know how to shoot ourselves in the foot. Not only inconvenience locals but yet again really present a bad image for one of our lifelines…”Tourism”.
We are fortunate enough to have a cruise ship in port this late in a depressing season and the poor tourist today are standing at bus stops wondering how to get back to their ship or even to tourist sites on the island. We are really how to make ourselves look like a banana republic!!
Bermuda we have got to do better!!!
Dam only the poor folk will feel this pinch…. what the hell now!!!
Good morning, and so it goes. Why can`t people just talk things out anymore.
Why strike first and then talk. Time for common sense. Lets think about the
people that are effected by this strike.
“There is an “interruption in bus service today [Dec 16] due to industrial action by the Bermuda Industrial Union,” the Ministry has confirmed.”
Umm, no. It is a “cancellation” of service.
“Update 10.14pm: There will be no bus service on Friday.”
Stop trying to protect the Union from the public. You should be protecting the public from the Union!
Weak government. Pathetically weak.
Well here we go again YET another bus strike…..Again has left persons that totally rely on public transportation for whatever reason out in the cold. It could NOT agave come at a worse time of the year as businesses are struggling and people are actually trying to enjoy the Christmas Spirit.
Once again it is an ILLEGAL strike but they always get away with it. I agree need to privatize sooner rather than later SO SICK OF IT…
I see alot of negative comments about the bus drivers and union, but put yourselves in their shoes. How would you feel when management constantly do things the wrong way…
Stop making excuses for them. We all have issues on our job.
Quit