Minister and Trade unions agree that change is needed to improve and grow bus services in Northern Ireland

22 November 2004
MINISTER AND TRADE UNIONS AGREE THAT CHANGE IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE AND GROW BUS SERVICES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Minister of State, John Spellar, MP, welcomed the agreement of senior trade union officials from the Translink bus companies that a programme of change is necessary to improve services and encourage greater bus usage in Northern Ireland.

A delegation of senior union representatives, led by Transport and General Workers Union’s (T&G) national organiser for transport Graham Stevenson, met with the Minister on 17 November to hear an update on the Department for Regional Development’s on-going review of bus regulation in Northern Ireland.

The Minister said: "The publicly-owned Translink has embarked upon a challenging Bus Change Programme. I believe that this comprehensive overhaul of the Citybus and Ulsterbus networks and modernisation of organisational structures and working practices can deliver new and better services for the passenger and help to turn around the long-term decline in ridership. I welcome the involvement of local trade union officials in this change process as well as their recognition that change is essential if growth is to be achieved."
"Within the Review of Bus Regulation, I am considering a number of options, including institutional changes to the way in which bus services are planned and operated. My concern will be to ensure that any changes made do not entail significant resource costs and, crucially, do not divert the attention of Translink management away from its programme of network improvements."

Within his consideration of options, the Minister is exploring whether and how changes could be brought about within existing structures.

The T&G representatives called for Government support for the Translink change process in the form of funding to assist with training bus drivers in customer care, defensive driving and disability awareness. "Investment in the people who work in the industry is as important and possibly even more important than investment in new buses," said Graham Stevenson.

The Minister highlighted the disability awareness training, which is funded by the Department’s Transport Programme for People with Disabilities and pointed to the availability of wider skills training supported by the GoSkills Initiative.

However, the unions issued a note of caution in that the management must fully involve the unions in the change process. "Using 1980s management techniques will not work in today’s industrial relations climate," said Graham Stevenson.

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