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No resolution to the bus dispute

There has been no eleventh hour resolution in the bus dispute.

So the strike, due to take place over 12 days from Saturday, is due to go ahead.

In a statement released this afternoon, the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure said it had received confirmation that the bus strike would be taking place during the TT festival as scheduled.

The union Unite told iomtoday.co.im that the strike ballot was ‘corrupted’ as some union members may have been given more than one voting paper.

Unite is calling for a fresh ballot.

The offer put to the drivers this week was based on one apparently put to the union in March but subsequently withdrawn, the union says.

The union did, however, vote in favour of that deal.

In a press statement, Graham Cregeen MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure, said:

‘The department put an offer to drivers that both achieved the savings requirements of the department and addressed a large number of the drivers’ concerns.

‘Unfortunately, this offer has not yet been accepted.

‘What is particularly frustrating is that good progress was being made and local representatives recommended to drivers to accept the proposal but at the last minute, the process was halted following interference from beyond the island.

‘Whilst I am extremely disappointed that this is the case, the department is well prepared. There will be bus and rail services throughout the TT period.’

The Minister continued:

‘Response from the island’s PPV licence holders has been very encouraging and we have the required number of drivers to operate a substantial service during TT.

‘The key messages are that the night services will be operating so there is no excuse for drink driving; peak time services will be operating on all core routes and as is the case during every TT, there will be no dedicated school buses during the school holiday period, students must ensure that they arrive on time for their exams.’




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