CE Raps KMB Over Pay Row, Says Happy To Mediate

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has given a mild rebuke to the Kowloon Motor Bus company over a recent labour dispute over driver salaries, saying its handling of the row “has room for improvement.”

She also responded to calls from a drivers’ group to intervene in the pay dispute by saying the government is happy to mediate, and the Labour Department has already contacted both sides.

On Tuesday evening, KMB sacked a driver who led a brief strike last month, together with three others who participated in the action, only to backtrack hours later following a rally by union members and supporters from various political parties.

Management told the four sacked drivers they would suspend their dismissals while their appeals are considered, although they will not be allowed go to back to work for the time being.

The company had said it had to fire the drivers because they had stopped driving without authorisation, and had compromised the safety of passengers and road users.

The company’s position has failed to silence critics, who continue to accuse management of seeking revenge against the drivers for staging a short strike.

Around a dozen members of the Civic Party held a protest outside KMB headquarters in Lai Chi Kok, urging the company to reinstate the four immediately.

Civic Party legislator Tanya Chan said KMB likely wanted to sack the drivers before their new group, the Monthly Paid Bus Drivers Alliance, can formally be recognised as a union, which would then give some protection to members who take industrial action.

“It’s very obvious that the KMB is trying to avoid any kind of new trade unions to be formed”, Chan said. “I think this is a humiliation to the employees and this is... totally [disrespectful].”