BIU will not join march on parliament

BIU president Chris Furbert said: “I don’t have authorization to march”.

The Premier’s apparent refusal to cut government ministers’ salaries, at a time of substantial budget cuts, is reportedly one of the reasons for the BPSU’s planned protest.

Mr Furbert told a press conference today: “I think the Premier has addressed the wage cut.

“Some people might think that while they look at the dynamics, it could be constituted as a wage cut.  She is not asking the MPs to take a cut.”

Mr Furbert said if Premier Paula Cox did that, she might have to ask workers to take a pay cut.

He added: “That’s not going to happen.”

Meanwhile, speaking on the recent bus route cancellations, Mr Furbert said he felt Transport Minister Terry Lister owed bus operators an apology after making comments about the new bus route that were “very offensive to our members. They make their time, and they are working. They have feelings and they have families. He owes them an apology.”

Mr Lister said last week that buses were cancelled due to drivers calling in sick.

Mr Furbert said while he had concerns with sick leave, drivers aren’t abusing the sick leave policy.

He said there were roughly four or five operators sick at a time.

Mr Furbert added: “What the minister is also doing is punishing the public, tourists and the country. It’s wrong.”