Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
BUS DRIVERS PROTEST & PICKET USA: * New York - ** New Mexico
* California - Bauer’s buses brouhaha bears mark of SF City Hall politics
-- Bauer’s Transportation, the shuttle service, has been told it can’t use Municipal Transportation Agency bus stops, that a permit to do so has been denied. Since Bauer’s runs 10 percent of the tech buses in the city, it would seem that could put a severe crimp in the shuttle program... Company owner Gary Bauer is furious... He says he was notified of the bad news Thursday, the day before permits were issued. He sees the shadowy hand of Supervisor Aaron Peskin, in cahoots with the Teamsters, who have had it in for Bauer because his drivers aren’t unionized... Bauer has been against unionizing — he says in a vote, only 25 of 80 drivers favored unionizing — and insists his company is not among those that pay such a low wage that drivers are reduced to sleeping in their cars... The MTA permit is only to use Muni bus stops and white zones. So Bauer’s buses could go rogue, still roam the streets and could legally stop in loading zones and open parking spaces... Now, imagine that. Those big, black Bauer’s buses cruising around looking for an open space. It would almost certainly make traffic problems worse...
(Photo: Ray Torres, left, leads chants as other Teamsters surround a Bauer's Intelligent Transportation bus during a protest against the company at a Muni stop used also for tech buses on 8th and Market streets) -- San Francisco, CAL, USA - The San Francisco Chronicle, by C.W. Nevius - April 1, 2016
** New Mexico - Bus drivers picket, but service continues
-- Between 50 and 100 school bus drivers and attendants protested for about an hour Tuesday morning outside the headquarters of STS of New Mexico, the private company contracted to provide bus services for Las Cruces Public Schools. The protests began about 9:15 a.m. and included members of the Las Cruces Transportation Federation Local 6341, as well as non-union drivers, according to LCTF President Marcos Torres... The picketing took place when bus drivers returned to the bus yard after completing their morning routes, and did not disrupt bus service... Torres said there is a shortage of buses, which leads to difficult working conditions for drivers and overcrowding on many buses...
(Photo: Members of the Las Cruces Transportation Federation Local 6341 protest Tuesday morning outside the offices of STS of New Mexico) -- Las Cruces, NM, USA - The Las Cruces Sun-News, by Damien Willis - April 5, 2016Labels: drivers' protests
BORDER TROUBLES * Suriname / Guyana: Bus drivers in Suriname blocked the road
* Suriname - Government moves to clamp down on foreign bus drivers
Paramaribo,Suriname -The Jamaica Observer –January 12, 2015: -- The Suriname government says while Guyanese bus drivers have the right to operate in the country, they must first apply for the necessary license to do so... The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Tourism (TCT) made the announcement after bus drivers earlier this month called on the authorities to find a solution to the problem where Guyanese bus drivers transporting passengers to the Suriname-Guyana border now travel to the capital, Paramaribo... The TCT said it has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help arrange a meeting with its transport counterparts in Guyana and that it has also requested information from the Guyana embassy about what is required from Surinamese bus drivers who want to take passengers beyond the western border... Bus drivers in Suriname blocked the road to and from South Drain in District Nickerie two weeks ago where the Canawaima Ferry berths, protesting the action of their Guyanese counterparts... The bus owners say they have been complaining of unfair competition from the Guyanese drivers for four years and it was time for the government to take action...Labels: drivers' protests, transport troubles
BUS DRIVERS PROTEST * USA:
* New Hampshire - Portsmouth school bus driver says sick out was a protest
(Photo from 13News Now)
Porsmouth,NH -13News Now -4 Nov 2014: -- Portsmouth Public Schools experienced delays after 38 bus drivers called out Monday morning... On an average day, only 10 to 15 drivers are absent, officials said... Some buses ran over 45 minutes behind schedule Monday morning... Parents question whether the drivers called in sick. A Portsmouth school bus driver confirms that nearly 40 drivers called in sick to protest for higher pay... Earlier this year, LaToria Smith organized a protest to get school bus drivers better pay and proper equipment for buses. She thinks many drivers called in sick Monday because they are all still frustrated with the job and the administration hasn't done a good job listening to their concerns...Labels: drivers' protests
Bus Drivers Protest * UK - Against firms merging. Labour say scrapping trams would be 'anti-Edinburgh'
Lothian Buses insist drivers should not fear merger with tram firm
Edinburgh,Scotland,UK -The Guardian, by Michael MacLeod -15 Oct 2010: -- Councillors will be asked to sign a disclaimer when they study new figures backing the case for a scaled-back line... After a lengthy debate in the city chambers yesterday, councillors voted to demand details of the new business case for halting the line at St Andrew Square. They also asked for the report to include a cost scale for the first phase, projected passenger numbers and what impact it might have on Lothian Buses... They will be under strict instruction not to reveal any commercial details. The agreement came after the SNP's third failed effort to halt the tram project. Main contractor Bilfinger Berger is still locked in legal talks with TIE over how much work can be done with existing funds... On their way in to the meeting some councillors took leaflets from bus drivers who held a protest outside. They too were calling on more clarity, fearing the long-standing proposal to merge Lothian Buses with Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) to create Transport Edinburgh Limited (TEL) could be damaging... (Picture: Michael MacLeod/guardian.co.ukLothian Buses could merge with tram firm TIE)Labels: drivers' protests
PROTEST * Ireland - Bus drivers protest transport cuts
Dublin,Ireland -Herald, by Fiona Dillon -February 12, 2009: -- Bus drivers and their families who are fearful for their futures have protested outside the Department of Transport... A letter was presented to Transport Minister Noel Dempsey asking him to reconsider axing jobs at Dublin Bus... A total of 290 workers will be let go from Dublin Bus with 120 buses withdrawn from service by the end of the month... Dublin Bus has said the move is a response to falling passenger numbers and will prevent major financial losses this year... The protesting drivers said the cuts will seriously damage public transport services and will put their livelihoods at risk...* Bus drivers vote for actionDublin,Ireland -The Irish Times, by AOIFE CARR -February 13, 2009: -- More than 1,000 drivers at Dublin Bus voted by an overwhelming majority last night in favour of industrial action over planned cutbacks at the company under which 120 buses will be withdrawn from service and 290 jobs will be lost... The drivers, represented by Siptu, voted by 81 per cent in favour of the action... John McCamley, vice-president of Siptu’s Dublin Bus branch, said the union would be meeting next week to decide on what form the industrial action would take. He refused to rule out strike action...Labels: drivers' protests
DRIVERS' PROTEST * Ireland - Dublin Bus drivers protest outside Green head office
Dublin,Ireland -The Irish Times, by CHARLIE TAYLOR -February 2, 2009: -- Up to 30 drivers from the Busworkers’ Action Group, which includes members of both Siptu and the NBRU, staged a two-hour protest outside the party's office in Suffolk Street in Dublin today to highlight the "silence" of Green Party ministers on the planned cuts... Last month Dublin Bus announced it was to make 290 staff redundant and reduce its fleet by 120 buses. The company said it will lose €31 million this year, following a €10 million loss in 2008, unless it makes the cuts... Today's protest did not disrupt bus services as participating drivers were either on breaks or not rostered to work... (Picture: Bus drivers protest in Dublin against planned cutbacks)Labels: drivers' protests
