Protest organiser: Union should be more responsible (update)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1:45PM UPDATE: A small group of demonstrators today staged a protest against a wildcat strike by bus drivers.

Around a dozen people gathered outside Hamilton's City Hall calling for an end to the strike.

Organiser Sahima Choudhury said: "The bottom line is the union needs to handle its disputes more responsibly.

“They could easily have gone to arbitration or issued a 21-day strike notice, but they’ve just chosen to strike instead.

The 36-year-old office administrator started a Facebook page to publicise the rally after bus staff voted to strike on Wednesday in support of driver Jennifer Harvey, who was fired after refusing a drugs test following an accident in June.

A meeting of public transport staff on Wednesday voted to strike after a meeting at the BIU’s HQ in Hamilton.

Ms Choudhury added: “The operator has been given regular opportunities to take a test and she has refused. If she was an employee at a private company, she would have moved on by now.

“I’m really concerned – a bus driver refusing a drugs test brings questions into your mind. Whether she’s been taking drugs or not, I don’t know. But it’s the credibility factor.”

Ms Choudhury said that several bus drivers had said privately that they do not support the strike.

She added: “The meeting was called when a lot of members were not there. A lot of drivers don’t agree with this, but they and the general public are being held hostage by the union.”

Ms Choudhury said: “There hasn’t been a huge turnout, but I’m just glad some people turned up despite the rain and not being able to get into town because of the bus strike.

“There’s been an enormous amount of support on the Facebook page and it’s growing. People support us in spirit, but might not have been able to attend.

“I want the drivers to know we support those who don’t want approve of this decision to call a strike.”

Nicky Decourte, 50, of Smith’s, said she had turned out because she was a regular bus user until she got a car a year ago.

She added: “It seems that things have changed a lot – I just don’t get this. From what I’ve read, government shouldn’t back down on this.

“I don’t know all the background, but it seems not many drivers voted for a strike. I always felt most of the drivers liked their jobs and wanted to help people.

“This strike is just hitting the people who can’t afford a car and who rely on public transport.”

Ms Decourte added she backed the pink-and-blue ribbon campaign designed to get island residents pulling over and offering stranded travellers lifts.

She said: “We should all be offering people rides – I did so this morning. We should all be doing it and showing some solidarity here.”

A 35-year-old Sandys woman – who asked not to be named – added that she was a union member herself and supported a strong union movement.

But she added: “This is beyond a principle – I’m definitely for standing for things on principle, but this dispute has been blown out of all proportion.

“I think the bus driver involved is being really selfish – I’m part of a union myself and my heart goes out to the people on strike. When you go on strike, you don’t get paid.

“I am right behind the bus drivers who don’t support this, but are basically being forced to strike.”

Special report: Bus strike

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• Premier calls on bus drivers to return to work
• Commuters urged to use ferries during bus strike
• Minister calls on bus drivers to return to work
• Protest organiser: Union should be more responsible (update)
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