Bus dispute and performance bond cash demand thought to be discussed, but there is no official word

Frustrated travellers were left without a full bus service for hours yesterday as the Bermuda Industrial Union called a mass membership meeting.

Billed to last between 10 a.m. and noon, commuters found services were disrupted much earlier and lasted until after 2 p.m.

Public Transport Board (PTB) director Dan Simmons said lingering anger over danger at the Hamilton Bus terminal was behind the action.

Hundreds of workers flocked to the BIU headquarters yesterday while the PTB workers remained after the main meeting closed at around noon.

Mr. Simmons said: "The buses were back working at about 2.15 or 2.20 p.m."

A BIU source denied the main meeting was about the ongoing work-to-rule on the buses, but would not say what the issues were.

Last night another union source claimed the BIU had also been discussing Government's bid to reclaim money owed on a bond for failed Berkeley contractor Pro-Active.

However BIU President Chris Furbert would neither confirm nor deny that claim. He said: "I am not at liberty to say what was discussed."

It's understood Mr. Furbert will be holding a press conference on Thursday.

The mass meeting also caused disruption in ferry services between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. as well as waste collection in the East End. Government said some collections would be done today.

Yesterday's stoppage follows two months of bus drivers and support staff being on a work-to-rule sparked by safety concerns that motorists were using Washington Street for through traffic, resulting in accidents.

The action means drivers cannot be found to work overtime or fill in for absent colleagues. It has also affected bus maintenance.

In response Police ticketing and TCD patrols have been ramped up, there's been improved traffic signals, and safety announcements on the terminal public address system.

Government said recently the action, which often limits buses at the mid-afternoon peak, was affecting sightseeing, charters and non-rostered premium services.

Bus passengers were most affected by yesterday's stoppage with some voicing their anger. At Hamilton bus station Sheila Simon said: "It's so inconvenient, especially for working people."

Ms Simon had travelled into town to do her washing and had hoped to drop it off in her Somerset home before going to work at 2 p.m.

But with the buses not running she said she would be forced to fork out around $35 for cab fare. "Sometimes you don't have $35 for cab fare."

And elderly fellow passenger William Woods, who was travelling to the hospital to get pills, said the public had been told the buses would not be running between 10 a.m. and noon.

"But at 8.30 this morning there were no services."

And one woman, who did not give her name, said she had not known the disruption was happening.

"I was waiting for the ten o'clock bus but someone shouted out there was no bus.

"I have had to walk all the way from St. John's Road into town."