Driver breaks strike, vows to quit BIU

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19: A bus driver defied the strike and went back to work yesterday — and vowed to resign from his union.

As commuters started to pour out of Hamilton shortly before 5pm, Earlston Thompson said: “I’ll be resigning from the BIU as soon as I can type out the letter. I know some people who have already started to do that.

“I have the express permission of the Minister of Transport Terry Lister to operate the bus. He said any driver who wants to operate a bus can do so.”

He was speaking as he picked up passengers at the central bus terminal on a run to Spanish Point.

Mr Thompson added: “People are very surprised to see me on the roads, but I have to take care of the general public.

“I’m here because I was hired to work as an operator and take care of people.

Sad

“This is a very sad situation we find ourselves in. I just want to get things back to where they should be.”

Mr Thompson reported to the Pembroke main bus depot after Mr Lister yesterday issued an appeal for drivers to ignore the strike and turn up for work.

But very few drivers appear to have heeded the call.

A man in a dispatch inspector’s uniform at the bus station — who asked not to be named — said Mr Thompson’s bus had been the only one running from the city.

He said: “I doubt there will be more buses today – probably there will be more tomorrow. I hope the strike will be over soon.”

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