Bus company under fire for sacking unionist driver
A subsidiary of property-to-transport conglomerate New World Development has been accused of suppressing its labour union by firing a cross-border bus driver who was active in union affairs.
A subsidiary of property-to-transport conglomerate New World Development has been accused of suppressing its labour union by firing a cross-border bus driver who was active in union affairs.
Kwoon Chung Bus driver Wong Hin-wai said that halfway through a workday last month, he was told to leave on the spot.
The company wanted to make an example out of me and silence other union members. I am probably the only driver in the industry who has been fired for using the radio to communicate
He said he was not given a reason for his dismissal until three days later, when he was told he lost his job for having installed radio communication devices on a bus without permission.
Some 20 union members from several bus drivers' unions of New World companies protested yesterday at the Kwoon Chung office, demanding the reinstatement of Wong and a meeting with the management about improving drivers' welfare.
"The company wanted to make an example out of me and silence other union members," Wong said, noting that most cross-border bus drivers used the walkie-talkie to communicate with one another. "I am probably the only driver in the industry who has been fired for using the radio to communicate."
Wong suspected the trigger for his termination was a newspaper interview he gave at a July 1 protest in which he complained about his long working hours.