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Go-slow protest by bus drivers fails to make an impact

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About 500 New World First Bus drivers staged a work-to-rule in the morning rush hour yesterday, but commuters experienced little disruption.

Union leaders had expected about 1,000 to join.

The drivers were trying to put pressure on management in a stalled pay row that also saw about 100 maintenance workers - also fewer than expected - stage a sit-in at the company's depot in Heng Fa Chuen.

The action followed the collapse of talks between management and the New World First Bus Company Staff Union, which has rejected an offer that has been accepted by a union covering other workers in the company.

During the work-to-rule, affecting busy districts such Central, Causeway Bay and Nathan Road from 7am to 11am, the drivers stuck to 30km/h on city streets and 50km/h on the highways.

The Transport Department had arranged more people to man its emergency transport co-ordination centre but said the go-slow did not cause serious traffic congestion.

Union chairman Johnny Mak Shiu-kei described the overall response as 'not too bad' although the management had done 'quite a lot' to limit the action.

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