Government has confirmed bus services will be running as normal for the first day of school today ? despite the ongoing dispute between the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Public Transportation Board over the introduction of a controversial bus schedule.

The PTB yesterday pledged not to enforce the new plan ? which would see a reduction in breaks between journeys and an increase in night shifts for the majority of bus drivers ? until the impasse is broken.

The board continues to insist, however, that change of some sort is non-negotiable as it attempt to increase the efficiency of the service.

Meanwhile, the bus driver strike threatened for yesterday failed to materialise following the news that talks between the BIU and the PTB would continue this week.

Labour and Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Robert Horton told yesterday that ?continuing efforts? were being made to resolve the outstanding issues while the present service remains in place.

?There seems to be some uncertainty out there about the schedule for tomorrow,? he said.

?While both parties move to find common ground over the next two weeks, there should not be any disruption to the current arrangements and school children will not have problems getting to school on time.?

However, the two parties last night appeared poles apart as PTB director Dan Simmons poured scorn on the arguments of BIU president Derrick Burgess, who over the weekend accused them of a ?blatant lack of respect? towards workers.

At the core of the bus drivers? grievances is the perception there has been a lack of consultation over the new schedule and genuine concern about the safety risk posed by only very short breaks between long journeys.

?Contrary to the assertions of Mr. Burgess, the issue of the schedule?s implementation has been the subject of continuing negotiations between the management of the PTB and the Divisional Executive Team for the past 18 months,? Mr. Simmons countered.

?That executive body has been kept informed during the creation and implementation stages of the schedule and, through an Errors and Commissions Committee formed from its members, has effectively scrutinised the new winter roster and offered their input regularly since December 2003.?

Despite the heated reaction of bus drivers, Mr. Simmons remained defiant, arguing that improving public transport is an ?essential? part of alleviating the increasing pressure on the roads.

?The existing schedule was implemented in 1998, and since which, there have been significant developments in the community,? he said.

?This includes the development of new businesses, new schools, new routes, and more importantly, and increase in the level of traffic. In order to meet the demands of an ever-evolving community, necessary steps must be taken to improve the current transportation system which includes modernising the present schedule.

?We are striving to meet the demands of our customers,? he continued.

?And as I have said in the past we need to be more efficient and more responsive to the needs of our residents and visitors who use public transportation. Modifying the schedule to reflect the realities of the current traffic situation will go a long way to doing that.?

Contacted last night, Mr. Burgess said it was ?unrealistic and dangerous? to expect bus drivers to reduce their break times to little over five minutes between each journey, and he called on the PTB to take a more ?reasonable? approach.

?We all want to do everything we can to improve the public transport system,? he said.

?But you have got to bear in mind that bus drivers carry an enormous burden on their shoulders in that they are responsible for the safety of the general public. In Bermuda with the narrow roads, they have to be even more alert and I don?t think the current proposals are practical in the circumstances.?

?Let us hope we can resolve all this quickly over the coming week.?