Regional bus wage deal still being sought

Officials from the Ministry of Labour failed to hammer out a deal between unions representing regional bus drivers and their employers on Wednesday. A ministry official said that a package of wage rises and improvements in conditions had been put on the table which approaches the demands made by unions. A new meeting between the sides is to take place August 26. Unions are seeking an average 130 crowns an hour for drivers bringing the monthly wage to around 22,000 to 23,000 crowns a month. The deal would cover around 11,000 drivers. Many complain their wages and conditions have been squeezed by competitive tenders for companies to serve regional bus routes.

Author: Chris Johnstone