Spate of assaults have drivers demanding more security guards at terminals
Helsinki,Finland -The HELSINGIN SANOMAT -10 Feb 2011: -- Bus drivers in the Helsinki region are demanding more security measures to counter a recent surge in assaults... If the action is implemented, buses in the Helsinki region would stop operating on Friday and Saturday evenings at 9:00 PM through the following morning... The ultimatum was issued at a meeting of regional bus drivers on Wednesday... The drivers are demanding more guards to protect them and passengers, especially at key Helsinki bus terminals of Elielinaukio, Rautatientori, and Kamppi... Jari Korhonen, head shop steward of the Veolia bus company, said that all drivers in the Helsinki region were represented at Wednesday’s meeting. He pointed out that the drivers have been demanding more security measures for years... (Photo, by KAI SINERVO/HS: Bus driver Risto Koskimäki hopes that the threat of a limited strike might lead to improvements in bus driver safety. He says that disturbances have increased on buses at night. “Seats are slashed, windows defaced, and vehicles are damaged. Damage is also inflicted on people.” Koskimies has been a bus driver since 1984)
* Sri Lanka -Route 138 strike called off Wednesday
Horana,Shri Lanka -The Daily Mirror, by Olindhi Jayasundere -9 February 2011: -- Private bus operators called off their two day strike this morning and resumed services of buses starting from Horana after the Passenger Transport Authority promised to resolve the problem of two controversial permits. Lanka Private Bus Owners Association said that the 138 routes strike was called off... Private Bus owners were on strike due to permits given to two buses plying the Horana-Karanda route and the Bulathsinhala-Pettah route, which the association claimed ‘illegal’... The association’s President Gemunu Wijeyratne said, that more than Rs.900,000 was lost by the Government as a result of the issuing of two permits... He said that in the past one and a half years private buses have gone on strike on more than 100 occasions due to what he referred to as the authorities’ lack of concern... He said that the Western Province Passenger Transport Authority Chairman was responsible for the issuing of illegal permits and that private bus owners would take whatever necessary measures to remove the Chairman from his position if the issuing of illegal permits continued... (Photo from skylineaviation.co.uk/buses Lanka)
* South Africa - Metrobus drivers in Johannesburg will go on strike against a new shift schedule on Wednesday afternoon, says the bus company
Johannesburg,SA -The Times Live -9 Feb 2011: -- Buses throughout Johannesburg were operating normally on Wednesday morning... "The strike is scheduled to commence at 2pm," spokeswoman Esther Dreyer said in a statement... "Some bus operators belonging to SA Municipal Workers' Union are unhappy about the recently introduced driver shifts implemented from the 6th of December 2010" ... In this instance, bus operators have to get used to their new routes, bus stops and passengers. Passengers also have to get used to their new drivers and regrettably commuters will experience inconveniences... Dreyer said when changes were introduced, there were bound to be initial hiccups... "However, the long-term benefits of a sustainable bus service and a sustainable public transport system in Johannesburg far outweigh these short-term teething problems" ... Commuters were advised to seek alternative transport...
* Bermuda - BIU sets conditions for end of bus strike
(Photo by Glenn Tucker - Bus drivers mingle outside the bus garage in Devonshire this morning on day two of service stoppage. Government later filed an order forcing them back to work)
Hamilton,Bermuda -The Royal Gazette, by Nadia Arandjelovic -Feb 10, 2010: -- Government is expected to respond this evening to a call by the Bermuda Industrial Union to reinstate a sacked bus driver in return for calling off today's bus strike... Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert, told The Royal Gazette tonight that the union was seeking the reinstatement of the driver, but would accept that he be suspended for one month and would have to serve a six month probationary period... Drivers have also agreed to forego their pay for their strike action today if the proposal is accepted, he said... It is not known if the buses will come back on the roads later today if the deal is accepted...Labels: bus drivers' strikes, Bus' owners strike
