The bus and ferry services will not run today amid Covid-19 health and safety fears among unionised staff.

A Government spokeswoman said the Department of Marine & Ports had been notified by the Bermuda Industrial Union that staff would strike today.

She added the reason given was “health and safety concerns at work”.

The bus service was stopped last week after BIU members downed tools on health and safety grounds. It had been hoped that buses would return today.

The spokeswoman said negotiations had continued with bus service staff over the weekend and yesterday, but an agreement with the Department of Public Transportation had not been reached.

She added: “The Ministry of Transport remains fully committed to ensuring the safest possible environment for DPT and Marine & Ports staff and will continue the sanitisation practices and safety measures required under the Covid protocols and guidelines of the Ministry of Health.”

The spokeswoman said that the Government would issue updates on the situation.

She added: “We appreciate the public’s patience as we navigate our way through this pandemic.”