Angry bus drivers stormed out of the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) building after a three-hour meeting failed to address concerns over the bus terminal so work to rule remained.

Bus service was halted at 11 a.m. for what was supposed to be a quick meeting to end at 1 p.m. between the operators, allied workers and Department of Public Transportation.

However, at 3 p.m. after members of the division, bus drivers, the Police Commissioner George Jackson, Assistant Police Commissioner Carlton Adams, PTB Director Dan Simons and his deputy Jonelle Christopher entered the BIU headquarters, the meeting was adjourned without resolution.

Mr. Furbert said if the workers seemed unhappy, it was because they did not feel their concerns were taken seriously and a meeting was left until the last minute. "These issues have been going on for a while and the staff thinks their needs are not being listened too and the meeting was called at the eleventh hour," Mr. Furbert explained, "They think those at the meeting are not serious about dealing with these issues.

"Some of their concerns need to be addressed by the Corporation of Hamilton, but we welcomed the Commissioner of Police coming to the table and the assistant commissioner being at the table to basically share some clarification."

The bus driver and allied workers division have five concerns about the area of the central bus terminal in Hamilton City which they initially raised at a meeting on July 25 with Mr. Jackson and the Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Kelly Miller.

While the workers have come to agreement on two of their demands, three remain outstanding. These include a solution to shelter for dispatchers from inclement weather, the legality of reversing from the terminal and hatching lines from City Hall up to the bus terminal to reduce congestion.

Mr. Furbert said he understood that the Corporatio has agreed to remove the parking bays and management is ready to have two supervisors helping with the reversing of the buses, until more employees can be hired. The other issues are unresolved which means work to rule will remain and Mr. Furbert yesterday apologised again for any inconvenience the long meeting may have caused.

"The meeting was approved by the Premier and we tried to keep it within the hour that we were allotted. We apologise to the public for the inconvenience, but people needed to know what was going on," he added.