BUS CHAOS returned to Dundee yesterday as drivers continued their overtime ban.
Dozens of buses failed to turn up at stops across the city and management had to drive many vehicles to ensure services could still operate.
The disruption yesterday when about 50 services were affected was at half the scale of Monday, but National Express Dundee apologised to the public for the inconvenience they were continuing to endure.
“We do not want our customers to suffer any disruption and we made every effort to ensure it was kept to a minimum,” said a company spokesman last night.
“This included managing director Phil Smith driving buses and office staff in the city centre providing customers with information. We also worked hard to ensure we operated all school buses and that services to Ninewells Hospital were unaffected.”
Services to Douglas, Kirkton, Whitfield and the city centre were among those cancelled or delayed.
Pupil support worker Margaret Walker was left stranded in the morning rush hour and said: “I’m waiting on the 7.42am service.
“It hasn’t run.
“It’s disappeared off the screen. I’m going to be late for work.”
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Karen Mitchell, who was waiting for the 1C service, said: “The delays are disruptive because we are trying to get to work but I sympathise with the drivers and the problems they are having.
“I wouldn’t say I’m annoyed by their action. They seem to be having a hard time with their bosses.”
Members of the Unite union are refusing to work what they regard as excessive overtime which they are being asked to carry out because of a shortage of staff.
The problem has been caused by the high number of drivers who have left their jobs and by staff illness. Management say they are recruiting additional drivers but it takes time to train them up to the required standard.
The union say they are powerless to make drivers take extra shifts despite a series of meetings they had with management.
Unite representative Douglas Maguire said: “National Express has been over-relying for too long on the fact that drivers are willing to do overtime.
“And now a few of those drivers have got together and decided they’ve had enough.”
Mr Maguire said union representatives had been scrambling to convince drivers to sign up for additional overtime as late as Thursday night but not enough had turned up for work yesterday.
He said it was up to National Express to address its own staff shortage, although the union were to hold a branch meeting in the depot last night when they would see if drivers’ attitudes to not working overtime had changed.
He added: “No one wants to see services cancelled or delayed but I can’t go out and tell someone they’ve got to work more than they’re obliged to do.”
Taxis were busier than normal in Dundee yesterday but it was unclear if this was entirely due to more people taking cabs because of the absence of buses.
Jackie McGoldrick, director of Tele Taxis, said: “We have been busier than normal today but there may be a few reasons for this.
“The buses have been one reason but it’s also the last day of work for many people before Christmas and many people having their Christmas nights out.
“Many may have been leaving their cars at home because they don’t want to drive, and they have been taking taxis instead.”
aargo@tghecourier.co.uk