Dundee bus drivers are defying their union by continuing to reject overtime on selected days, according to information presented to The Courier.
A source close to the dispute said management and union officials were frustrated that the protest had entered a second week.
Monday saw a repeat of Friday’s disruption, with a similar number of services cancelled as a result of drivers refusing to work what they regard as excessive overtime.
The number of withdrawn services around 50 was the same as on Friday but different routes were hit. Last Monday about 100 buses had to be left in the garage as there was no one to drive them.
National Express Dundee has a shortage of drivers because of employees leaving their jobs and illness absence. Recruiting replacements takes time and existing drivers have been offered more work to cover the shortage.
About 20 shifts have to be covered by overtime working each day and the company has found enough volunteers on Tuesdays to Thursdays and at weekends, said the source.
“For whatever reason not enough staff have come forward to do overtime on Fridays and Mondays,” the source continued.
“Management and union officials have been discussing a solution which has been put to the drivers, but the drivers at branch level haven’t accepted it.
“It looks like the drivers in the depot are going their own way. This is causing those who are trying to solve the problem a lot of frustration.”
National Express Dundee has about 250 drivers and it is understood that the overtime requirement averages at about one extra shift per driver every fortnight.
The Courier tried to put the claims to area Unite union official Doug McGuire but he did not return our call.
Mr McGuire had earlier said the company relied too heavily on drivers working more hours than they are obliged to do.
The company is bracing itself for more cancellations today but was awaiting last night’s drivers to finish their shifts and declare their intentions for overtime work.