Bus Bliss? Short-Lived

Have you enjoyed hopping on a bus yesterday and today and actually getting where you wanted to go?

Well, don’t get used to it.

Bus drivers are set to continue industrial action despite services returning to normal on Tuesday following an initial 10-day strike.

The first wave of action, which ran from February 22 to March 3, saw all ‘big bus’ drivers walk out, with picket lines in Douglas, Ramsey and Port Erin and a heavily reduced timetable across the island.

With talks still stalled, Unite the Union has confirmed further walkouts starting this Friday through to Tuesday are going ahead, followed by additional strike periods later this month, amounting to another 20 days of action.

The dispute centres on pay and proposed changes to terms and conditions after months of negotiations.

Unite says there has been no communication from Bus Vannin or the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) this week to move things forward.

Bus Vannin insists it remains ‘ready and willing to have positive and constructive negotiations’ and says six offers are still on the table in a bid to reach a fair resolution.

We’re not sure when or how this saga will end, but for the sake of our elderly population, our school children, and everyone else who relies on public transport, we hope it’s soon.