BIU wants to resolve bus issues without arbitration

TUESDAY, JUNE 21: The Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) is 95 per cent close to resolving the bus schedule issue with Government, BIU president Chris Furbert said.

Speaking at a press conference after a two-week vacation, Mr Furbert said the matter was very close to being dealt with and didn’t think arbitration was needed.

“If we sit down with a third party and they see how close we are, they are going to say, ‘Can you guys solve this amongst yourselves?’.

“We think we can resolve this ourselves.”

The union originally gave a 21-day notice of industrial action in a letter sent to Transport Minister Terry Lister.

The union denied industrial action meant they would go on strike.

Mr Furbert said the 21 days end on Friday and his membership would meet Thursday evening to make a decision.

“We don’t think that the arbitration process needs to go ahead on the new schedule.

“The division has issued the 21-day notice of industrial action and they will decide what kind of action they will take.

“No one has said it was a 21-day notice of strike.

“Our position is it’s a 21-day notice of industrial action.”

Mr Furbert said work to rule could be considered industrial action.

The president also said: “The BIU will always come out and defend its membership.

“We have a current Minister of Transport who has said let’s sit down and deal with this and has gone to the media while I was gone.

“I thought the relationship was pretty good but as I said, my email works and my phone works.”

Mr Furbert said he gave the Minister contact details for use while he was on vacation but did not hear from him.