Michael Tien Urges KMB To Hike Drivers' Salaries

Roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien has said KMB should review the salary packages of its bus drivers - with a view to relying less on paying drivers overtime and the employment of part-timers.

He said instead of putting returns on passenger rebates, it may be time for the bus operator to use that money to try and make salaries for bus drivers more attractive.

His comments came after a small a group of KMB bus drivers staged a four-hour strike on Saturday evening, demanding their basic monthly salary be increased to HK$18,000.

Several drivers at a Tsim Sha Tsui terminus answered the group’s calls and stopped their buses at the exit.

The group - called the Monthly Paid Bus Drivers Alliance - originally said they would strike for only 30 minutes from 8pm, but extend their action after KMB warned that drivers who violate working guidelines would face strict disciplinary action.

The strike ended just before midnight after KMB agreed to management representatives would meet the group on Monday. KMB said it wants to hear opinions from its staff, and it will not talk about disciplinary actions for drivers who joined the strike for the time being.

The company had earlier said it had already responded to the demands of staff by raising the drivers' starting monthly pay to about HK$15,300 by including bonuses in salaries.

Working conditions at KMB have recently come under scrutiny following a spate of bus accidents and the Tai Po crash earlier month in which 19 people died.

Critics said drivers work long shifts without enough rest, which puts passengers at risk. Unions also say poor pay is failing to attract fresh talent.

On Friday, the government announced new guidelines for bus companies that cut maximum working hours and increased rest time.