Bus drivers could take action today in protest over the forced introduction of a new bus schedule.

It was not clear last night if the action would go ahead or not with Government announcing in a statement that it would re-open negotiations on the rota ? but Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess saying he had heard nothing more from government since talks ended on Friday.

BIU bus drivers have pledged not to drive to the new rota, which cuts down on breaks and increases night shifts for drivers as Government tries to expand bus services.

Last night Mr. Derrick Burgess said he the crunch could come this morning if PTB management goes ahead with the new shift pattern.

He said had not heard from Government since the talks on Friday between PTB management, a Labour Relations Officer and the BIU failed to break the deadlock.

In a release late on Friday afternoon, Government said it would "revisit" discussions with the BIU.

"Further to pronouncements made (on Friday) by the president of the BIU regarding the possibility of industrial action by bus drivers, the Government wishes to inform the public that discussions with the Union will be revisited," the statement said.

It said 14 out of 16 outstanding issues have been agreed in the talks.

"Two, arguably minor points, remain unresolved," the release said. "One point revolves around a new winter bus schedule, designed by the Ministry of Tourism and Transport to improve bus services to both residents and visitors alike.

"Regrettably, the schedule has not been accepted by the Union. To ensure that members of the public are not inconvenienced by any form of industrial action, the Government will continue discussions with the BIU over the next fortnight. The public will be kept fully briefed as to the importance of the winter schedule and status of the ongoing discussions."

Mr. Burgess said he was "always willing to meet, no matter what time" over the holidays but so far "had not heard anything".

"I have been at home all of Saturday and Friday anticipating a call, but no one has called yet," he said. "We want a solution. We want our children to go to school, we want to take the workers to work. We find it very sad, we really can't understand their motive.

"Their actions are blatant disrespect to the workers and the labour relations laws of the country. That a Government department can do what they are doing? It seems they really don't care."

Bus drivers "will be reporting to work" this morning, he said, but only to work "on the old roster".

"We are not working to the new schedule. We are working by the old schedule until discussions are resolved," he said.

"This was told to the Government side by the Labour Relations Officer," he said. "But this was rejected by PTB management on the meeting on Friday.

"What disturbs me most, is that this is Government's legislation," he said, referring to the 1975 Trade Union Act.

"If the Government is not abiding by the practice of its own legislation, what can the private sector do?

"The behaviour of PTB management is disturbing" he said.

"Obviously they don't understand the labour law because it is quite clear in the 1975 Act, which the labour department has correctly put in writing to them, that any party which has a dispute can call the labour department for assistance which we did.

"Once the situation is in mediation all actions by the workers or the management must cease. That is the practice in Bermuda which we take from the essential industries act.

"That was told to the management by the labour department officer and they have rejected it.

"They are going ahead with it. They obviously want a head-on collision on Monday with the workers."

In a recent interview with Transport Minister Ewart Brown said Government was looking to expand the late night public bus service to operate on 15-minute schedules to encourage more people to use the service.

And he said the cost implications were being worked on now but were not as high as expected.

Mr. Burgess said talks had been held since the spring on the changes but no agreement had been reached despite last ditch efforts on Friday.

"I last heard (the new schedule) was going into effect Monday morning and I have not heard anything different," he said.

Referring to the Government press release, he said: "They say two minor points can be resolved, but if they are so minor why at this stage are they still unresolved?"

"I was called on Thursday to initiate the Friday meeting. We have been trying very hard. We have been trying to get a resolution.

Getting back to the release, he said: "We have nothing against improving anything, the service industry included, but no talks have been held with us.

"I heard the Minister say the schedule was about improvements. We have no problem with that...But you have to talk to the workers. It should not be about policy just coming down. The drivers are the ones on the road every day.

"But we are still waiting for a meeting where they can get input from the workers. They are the experts. If improvements can be made, we'll do it. When the social partners want to do something, they must meet with their other social partners to do it the right way. You have got to include your workers." he said.

"We don't want to start the year like this," he said.