Bus passengers and other commuters face long delays and disruptions tomorrow if bus drivers carry out their threat of industrial action to press their case for pay rises.
Union representatives of drivers for the city's three main bus operators have threatened co-ordinated industrial action if the last-minute negotiations on pay rises break down today.
Yesterday's meeting with their respective employers - Kowloon Motor Bus, New World First Bus and City Bus - ended in deadlock. It was mediated by Transport Department and Labour Department officials.
The drivers are demanding pay rises of 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent. Chung Kin-wah, deputy director of the Kowloon Motor Bus branch of the Motor Transport Workers' General Union, said the management has requested 24 hours to consider the demands. However, he said he believed management was not 'sincere' even after the union lowered their demands.
'They remain strong in their stance. We are not optimistic about today's negotiations. Any collapse [in today's talks] may result in industrial action,' he said.
The drivers had lowered their demands in an earlier round of negotiations on Monday. By the end of the day, Citybus and New World First Bus had offered 2.5 per cent, and Kowloon Motor Bus had raised its offer to 2.5 per cent plus a lump sum of HK$250. But no agreement was reached.
The drivers had initially sought rises of 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.