All strike action relaxed;
at least for another month...
By Joyette Mills-Ward
Business Reporter- SKNVibes.com
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Dale Hughes, President of the West Line Bus Association
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - COMMUTERS can now breathe a sigh of relief, as bus drivers have decided to accept the Government’s proposed fare increases and will no longer go on strike unless the current price of fuel rises.
This information was provided by Dale Hughes, President of the West Line Bus Association, during an interview with SKNVibes on the latest developments.
On Monday afternoon, bus drivers were asked to operate for another 24 hours provisionally at new fares of an additional EC$0.75 on every destination after the 10 mile mark on both sides of the island (Sandy Point and Mansion) and an additional EC$0.50 for destinations before the 10 mile mark until a meeting between a sub-committee of Cabinet and Presidents of the island’s Bus Associations.
The proposed meeting was held yesterday afternoon where the Bus Associations’ Presidents met with Acting Prime Minister Sam Condor, Attorney General Dennis Merchant and Minister Nigel Carty to further discuss the contention over the fare for passengers travelling further than Sandy Point on the west and Mansion on the east of the island.
~~Adz:Right~~ The point of contention is that EC$0.75 is still EC$0.25 less than what was jointly proposed by the Bus Associations and verbally agreed to by representatives of the Government in approximately five prior negotiations until the last one on Monday.
Yesterday’s meeting resulted in bus operators who are making the ‘long haul’ (drive to destinations past Sandy Point and Mansion) have to continue operating without the additional EC$0.25 for another month while Government looks into reviewing and increasing the statutory minimum wage and salaries of civil servants.
However, should the price of gasoline be increased to EC$16.60 or exceeds that figure, bus operators will immediately become eligible to receive the additional EC$0.25. Additionally, a Task Force was formed to deal with any emerging concerns/disgruntlement of bus operators.
