Yesterday’s unannounced walkout by Marine & Port workers was just the latest in a series of disruptions that have plagued transport services in the last 18 months.

Just two month’s after its December 2012 election victory, the One Bermuda Alliance Government found itself in hot water with ferry workers after announcing plans to charter a private ferry, The Millennum, to back up its fleet of ageing ferries during the busy summer months.

Although the Bermuda Industrial Union agreed with Government that backup was necessary, staff walked off the job for two days in March 2013, complaining that they had been unable to get detailed information about the $1.25 million contract and how it would affect them.

Union chiefs issued Government with a 24-hour ultimatum to answer staff concerns — and claimed they did not receive a reply by the deadline.

Marine & Ports staff also pointed out that maintenance and repair work on the ferries had been neglected for several years, and criticised management for taking a short-term, “band-aid” approach to keeping a potentially hazardous fleet afloat. On March 19, The Royal Gazette reported that just three of six fast ferries were currently operational, while two out of three tug boats were also out of action

Following that action, BIU president Chris Furbert warned that further strikes could not be ruled out unless Government showed the union “respect”.

“I do not have a crystal ball — I cannot guarantee that,” Mr Furbert said when asked if no further industrial action would take place in the future.

Throughout last summer transport services were cancelled on a number of occasions to enable ferry and bus operators to attend union meetings.

There was further disruption at the start of February of this year when public transport staff walked out for several days in support of unionised hotel workers who lost their jobs at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel.

“Don’t wait for a ferry, because it’s not coming,” Mr Furbert told a raucous crowd of cheering workers who had marched on Parliament in a show of solidarity.

Two weeks later there was further strike action.

“For the past five years or so, the service has been rapidly declining as it relates to the standard of service and the financial position the department has suffered through mismanagement,” Mr Furbert said in a letter to Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell prior to the action.