City Gate chaos

Those who tried to get maxi-taxis, added to the throngs that crowd the bays to push their way into the privately operated vehicles. It was chaotic. But the bus drivers stuck by their actions.

Spokesman Vishnu Cassie said part-time drivers wanted terms and conditions equal to full time drivers.

“We are part-time drivers and we don’t have any fixed hours, no sick leave, no casual and no holiday leave, nothing like that, and we working six hours, some working eight hours and some working nine hours but we are called part-time workers,” said Cassie.

Cassie added that the drivers do not have the benefits of an industrial agreement even though they are on the job every day. Cassie believed some PTSC managers were opposed to part time drivers, and did not want to give them anything.

He said: “They don’t even want to meet with the union (TIWU) to talk on conditions of employment as regards the part-time drivers issue. Any time there is a meeting scheduled, they are always putting it off and they don’t want to talk anything constructive. So we decided to take our own action until they come to some agreement.”

Cassie promised the protest action will continue until management decides to settle the issues.

One disgruntled passenger, Danielle Frederick, had her own issues with PTSC stating that only the corporation workers were being allowed to board the bus before passengers, causing commuters to stand because they were unable to get seats.

She also complained that the buses, even when there are no protests, are never on time. The only difference yesterday was the extra long wait.