PTSC, union headed for car park showdown

THE Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) and the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union (TIWU) seem to be heading for a showdown over revised parking arrangements for the use of the corporation’s car park by bus workers. Yesterday, TIWU’s first vice-president, Darren Samuel said whoever took the decision, acted “without conscience.” He was referring to parking rates for its employees worked out by the PTSC. TIWU is the bargaining agent for bus workers. The new parking arrangements to take effect from March 1 are: hourly - $4; daily - $25 and monthly - $250. In a memo, the PTSC said in the interim, only monthly rates which are payable in advance would apply.

Samuel said for all the years the corporation has been around, the workers have used the car park for free. “As a State enterprise, we expect the PTSC to show more consideration for its employees,” he said.  A meeting between the union and the PTSC is scheduled for March 8 to try and resolve the matter. PTSC’s CEO Eddison Isaacs was unavailable for comment. A clause in the memo said that use of the parking facility by employees at special rates, would be on a “first come first serve” basis, for which only the monthly rate of $150 would apply. Vehicles without parking authorisation would not be allowed entry into the facility and authorised users must at all times use the lots assigned to them.