Union threatens to bring Lothian Buses to a standstill
Edinburgh commuters face chaos as Unite threatens strike action on Lothian buses.
The union is accusing bosses at the firm of 'bullying' and 'harassment' and says they are putting the safety of staff at risk.
Regional officer for Unite, Tony Trench, said:
"The intimidation of union members by Lothian Buses management is a disgraceful development.
"We are running at nearly 100 drivers short because of a problem with retention - all to do with the current culture."
Referring to the fact that safety gloves for drivers operating manual wheelchair ramps have been taken away, he added that management at the bus company had "failed to ensure the safety of drivers at little cost".
However, a spokesman for Lothian Buses said the firm was "shocked and deeply disappointed" at Unite for failing to try to resolve any concerns with them directly.
He added that the company had given workers a six percent pay increase over three years, starting in 2016, as well as creating new jobs.
Both parties claim to be considering bus users; Mr Trench said:
"We love the public and we love to provide a solid standard of service."
Lothian buses countered that strike action "would only bring significant inconvenience to customers".
A council spokesperson said:
"Our priority is to ensure the city keeps moving and for Lothian Buses' customers to enjoy the best possible service.
"We have urged both parties to reach a speedy resolution."