Following lack of progress in the ongoing dispute between the government and the Public Transport Association over subsidies for 2005, the latter last week threatened to start handing out termination of employment notices to some 40 workers as from today.

The PTA is claiming that the government’s proposed subsidy of Lm1.1 million is Lm600,000 short of its request. It ordered industrial action last week with the result that bus routes stopped working after 8pm, except for routes 11, 19, 22, 45, 48, 49, 62 and 70.

Route 75, the bus service linking towns and villages to St Luke’s Hospital was also suspended as a sign of protest. The government is looking into providing emergency services for the hospital routes.

The government is saying that it would deduct Lm2,000 a day from the subsidy until the directives are lifted and Lm5,000 for every employee who is made redundant by the PTA.