By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE management of Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) must stop complaining about industrial action taken by its bus drivers on Wednesday and immediately resume its disrupted service to communities.

And Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan must instruct that there be an urgent resolution to the matters that led to the shutdown of vital bus routes.

This is according to Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal, the shadow minister of works and transport of the United National Congress.

In a statement on Thursday, Dr Moonilal said, “Instead of finding a solution to the issues that led to the interruption of the service, PTSC has turned on its own workers, accusing them of illegal industrial action. Workers have a legal and moral responsibility to resist injustice and oppression.”

He continued, “While the bus company is whining, thousands of working-class commuters are being adversely affected, with some being unable to get to work or to conduct personal matters. They include travellers from San Fernando to Chaguanas, Point Fortin, Rio Claro, Couva, and other communities.”

Dr Moonilal said that while the workers have been making demands for improved working conditions, PTSC’s chairman Edwin Gooding and management has opted to shut down the vital service, instead of engaging the Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union in purposeful discussions.

In addition, the company had the option of temporarily reassigning drivers from other routes in order to maintain its national schedules, Dr Moonilal stated.

Gooding described the action taken by the union on Wednesday as illegal and mischievous and blamed the union for causing distress on the hundreds of commuters that use the service on a daily basis.

PTSC in a press release stated that the union had no grounds in which to engage in protest action by not working and that all health protocols were strictly adhered to.