Bus negotiations fail

There’s still no sign of any agreement in the ongoing row between government and its bus drivers.

A full day of negotiations yesterday between the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure and union Unite has been fruitless – sparking fears the dispute may now end with industrial action.

The row began when the government said it wanted to scrap paid lunch breaks, a move the union said amounted to a 12 per cent pay cut.

Last weekend, the department announced it would lay off all its 100 full-time drivers and offer them new contracts without the paid-for breaks.

Unite says it expects to ballot members soon over industrial action.