People rallied together yesterday to keep business going as usual in the wake of industrial action.

While City of Hamilton workers pitched in to fill gaps where needed, other people offered lifts to those left stranded by cancelled bus and ferry services.

Sacha Pedro told The Royal Gazette that she had an extra space in her car and was able to give one woman a lift into town in the morning.

The Warwick resident said she heard the industrial action had been called on Thursday evening and had given people lifts before under similar circumstances.

“I’d done it before,” Ms Pedro said.

“I just kept an eye out at the bus stops to see if there were any people waiting.”

The woman she picked up was unaware of why the buses had been suspended, Ms Pedro said, adding that she explained the situation before dropping her off at the Hamilton bus terminal.

Ms Pedro also offered to give someone a lift yesterday evening, saying: “I hope I can help someone else out”.

St David’s islander Andrew Roberts was also on his way to Hamilton this morning when he spotted a couple with a young child waiting for a bus at Gate 1.

Having seen other people offering lifts online, he stopped and asked them if they needed a ride.

Mr Roberts said: “There’s a lot of negativity going on, but it was nice to hear Bermudians helping other Bermudians out.”

He said the couple were “very distraught” about not being able to get into town to run errands and buy diapers for their 18-month-old child.

Sarah Tufts-Robinson, of Warwick, praised a “blue car picking up tourists up at Grotto Bay bus stop”.

“The car actually drove past them and went around the round about and went back for them,” she said. Ms Tufts-Robinson was heading towards the East End and had offered to give people a lift, although no one took her up on the offer.

“I was prepared to take anyone stranded going in my direction and will do the same after work,” she said.

She added that it is “fantastic” to see people coming together to help each other out at a time like this.

“My entire staff showed up for work today so our children do not suffer which was great to see. I am fed up with the way things are going here.”

Meanwhile, City of Hamilton workers pitched in where needed to ensure that essential services could go ahead.

One City of Hamilton worker, who did not want to be named, said that while the sanitation crew was normally responsible for trash collection, other Corporation workers helped fill the gaps. “Some of the guys that work nights are doing it,” he added.

According to a spokeswoman, sanitation was the most impacted service and the early morning trash pickup was postponed because of the industrial action.

However, with the assistance of other Corporation staff, the morning collection was completed by 2.30pm.

The spokeswoman added that non-essential services had also been affected but skeleton crews were in place.

Mayor Charles Gosling said in a statement: “I am just so proud of our staff who came to work today and took it upon themselves to help out in whatever way they could to keep Hamilton, Bermuda, at its best.

“We are an international business centre, the hub of Bermuda-based businesses and the number one destination for all tourists visiting the island.

“It is challenging at the best of times to look our best; it is especially challenging under these circumstances. We appreciate the extra effort of our workers, supervisors and managers who clearly demonstrated our vision of being a vibrant, dependable and clean city where services are delivered innovatively and effectively. They took up the task and won.”