CT Plus driver Craig Howie, along with 25 of his colleagues, will hold a meeting this weekend to discuss industrial action on Monday, due to working conditions they claim are dangerous.
Mr Howie said he had raised his concerns with management. However, he now felt something more needs to be done.
‘I have warned the company two months ago. I told them this is an emergency as drivers were falling asleep at the wheel.’
The main concern for the group of drivers is the length of shifts and the new summer timetable, where drivers are expected to travel between stops in less time than during the winter months, which is causing the drivers stress.
‘They have cut the running times from winter to summer, just because it fits into their new timetable, and it’s unrealistic for us to be able to do it,’ he said.
‘This is a completely different island in the summer. We have cruise ships, more people are out and about.
‘The length of shifts isn’t right, 15 hours sometimes, 7am until 10pm. For me that’s breakfast, lunch and dinner and I’ll only get a one-hour lunch break and two half-hour breaks, if that. It’s getting too much.
‘We have back pain, knee pain. We’re getting angry, we are fatigued.
‘We drive school buses with 50 kids on them, guys are taking Red Bull and ProPlus just to stay awake.’
Mr Howie said he had spoken to a CT Plus senior manager, who felt that drivers on the island were happy with the working conditions.
‘He has said that he’s spoken with six drivers and they don’t mind the work pattern,’ said Mr Howie.
‘But I know drivers who have had accidents, made mistakes, they’re tired, but they aren’t getting into trouble as they are willing to do 80-plus hours a week.’
Mr Howie has 25 years of experience driving coaches and buses around Europe, and felt his job could be perfect if issues were resolved.
‘This is the worst company I have ever worked for,’ he said. ‘The worst part is this has the potential to be best job in the world, driving around a paradise island.
‘Passengers are lovely, but with the stress, the tiredness, our mental health is being affected.
‘The company has a duty of care, but they have no care for the drivers and therefore no care for the public.
‘The company is putting us under far too much pressure. We are stressed, we are angry and we are tired.
‘It’s affecting our job, I don’t feel like I can do it properly. I don’t feel safe driving my bus.
‘A large proportion or drivers will tell you the same.’
CT Plus had yet to respond by the time the newspaper went to print.
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