Suzy, Drinker Of Coffee

A STRIKE by bus drivers is set to cripple the Capital's public transport system, after Lothian Buses was unable to resolve a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. Drivers have voted to hold three days of strikes this month, with a one-day strike on July 18 and a two-day strike over the weekend of July 30 and 31. They have also voted to stop working overtime from July 17, while the possibility of further strikes has not been ruled out if the situation has not been resolved. The unions are seeking a flat 6.1 per cent rise and say all previous offers have been tied to unacceptable conditions.

The employment mediation service Acas had been called in by the company in a bid to resolve the dispute. But despite that, and a revised pay offer that would see drivers paid a basic hourly rate of £9, they have opted to press ahead with strike action. The Transport and General Workers Union balloted 1400 Lothian Buses drivers. An overwhelming 82 per cent said they supported industrial action. The offer would have given drivers an increase of four per cent in the first six months of the year, backdated to April 3, 2005, and a 6.15 per cent rise for the second six months of the year, starting on October 2, in return for more flexible working conditions.

It is understood the latest offer was also tied to conditions about working hours and holiday pay, which the TGWU said was unacceptable. Sandy Smart, regional industrial organiser at the TGWU, said: "The problem we have always had is that they want to tie any improvement in pay to a change in working condition, which is unacceptable." The strength of feeling amongst the drivers has been shown by the size of the vote for a strike."

This time, make no doubt about it, the passengers will be suffering. Why? Because the service changes have been postponed. These included the introduction of the Scottish Executive funded improvements on the 31 amongst other routes, as well as new Park & Ride facilites at Ingilston and Hermiston. The changes also saw a planned extension of the 24 to run through end-to-end on Saturdays and during peak times as well as the current off-peak service - ironically enough, as the change has been postponed, the Saturday service will not be able to start until afterwards! The full list of service changes - all now postponed until further notice - are as follows...

NIGHT BUSES From 0000hrs 17 July 2005

NEW N11 - same as daytime 11 between Ocean Terminal & Hyvots Bank then to Ferniehill.
NEW N31 - same as daytime 31 between East Craigs & Bonnyrigg then to Brixwold, Newtongrange & Mayfield roundabout.

REVISED
N8 - Extended via one way loop to Caravan Park & Silverknowes. Extended from Royal Infirmary to Ferniehill, Gilmerton & Hyvots Bank (replacing withdrawn N33).Through journeys are available between new N11 & revised N8 at Ferniehill/Hyvots Bank.
N16 - Revised timetable.
N26 - Extended to Port Seton.
N27 - Extended to Canonmills, Inverleith, Crewe Toll & Muirhouse. Terminates in Hunter's Tryst (see N11 for Night Buses to Fairmilehead & Kaimes).
N37 - Serves Omni Cinema & Leith Street on journeys TO Penicuik.
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CHANGES TO YOUR BUSES FROM 17 JULY 2005

NEW for Gogarburn (new RBS HQ)
X12 – NEW peak period express bus from Leith Links, City Centre, Haymarket & Maybury to Gogarburn.
2, 12 – peak period buses extended from Gyle Centre.
21, 24A, 35 – some peak period journeys extended to Gogarburn.

NEW INGLISTON Park & Ride Just off the A8/Airport junction.
Served by NEW X48 express service: Ingliston – Maybury – City Centre. Frequent departures every day — special fare £1 adult, 60p child each way. Ridacards, Daytickets, Concession fares & passes valid.

NEW HERMISTON Park & Ride Just off A71/City by-pass junction.
Served by:
NEW X25 express service: Riccarton – Hermiston – City Centre. Runs peak period — normal fares apply.
25 – City Centre via Gorgie.
34 – City Centre via Slateford.
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Changes to your buses from 17 July 2005
11 – Journeys to Kaimes will be extended to Hyvots Bank. Buses will no longer link up to service 31.
21 – daytime buses will extend from Duke Street to serve Leith Links.
24 – New peak period and Saturday buses will be introduced linking Davidson's Mains, Comely Bank and City Centre.
31 – EXTRA BUSES FOR BONNYRIGG! Current daytime & evening journeys to Kaimes & Fairmilehead will instead serve Lasswade, Bonnyrigg High Street and Bonnyrigg (Cockpen Road). This will give an increased frequency to Bonnyrigg.
45 – revised timetable.
Minor timetable changes: 1, 5, 16, 27, 32