A KMB 74X bus crashed into a barrier on Tolo Highway in Tai Po on the afternoon of March 19, resulting in 11 injuries. In response to this incident, a representative from the bus union met with the management of KMB yesterday (March 20) to express concerns about the chaotic scheduling of shifts, which has led to frequent changes in work hours and made it difficult for drivers to arrange sufficient rest.
KMB responded by stating that when changing drivers' work arrangements, they strive to assign similar routes and provide sufficient time, training, and guidelines to help drivers adapt. They emphasized that all drivers' work arrangements comply with the Transport Department's "Guidelines on Bus Captain Working Hours, Rest Times & Meal Breaks." The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and detailed conclusions are pending as the company cooperates with police inquiries.
Union Representatives Voice out Concerns
Lai Siu-chung, director of the KMB branch of the Motor Transport Workers General Union, along with other union representatives, met with company management at the Kowloon Bay KMB depot to discuss their demands. After the meeting, Lai informed the media that the driver involved in the accident worked 10.5 hours that day, including 2.5 hours of overtime.
"He first operated two 74X buses, took a short break, then switched to the 75K route, and was later reassigned to the 274X before returning to the 74X."
Lai criticized the management for the chaotic scheduling that has persisted since late November last year, which has made it challenging for drivers to arrange sufficient rest. He stated, "As drivers, we need time to prepare, including changes to routes or cancellations of stops."
Many drivers have expressed feeling lost and frustrated due to the frequent schedule changes, especially those who need to care for their families, as their routines have been disrupted.
Lai also criticized the company for placing excessive demands on drivers, such as requiring them to check the cleanliness of the bus after finishing their shifts. "Drivers are not cleaners; they should only be responsible for driving safety and service." He did not comment on whether the accident was caused by scheduling issues but emphasized the desire to prevent any accidents.
The Union subsequently issued a notice to KMB with several demands, including reducing the number and frequency of backup drivers so that more qualified drivers can operate fixed routes; improving temporary changes to schedules and routes to allow drivers more time to adapt; enhancing the working and salary conditions for retired drivers who are rehired; and addressing issues faced by frontline staff encountering unreasonable complaints from passengers, while also providing support for affected employees.
Management's Commitment to Improvement
The management indicated that they would review and implement improvement measures and communicate further with union representatives to enhance the working environment for frontline staff.
In response to inquiries from Wen Wei Po, KMB stated that the meeting with union representatives was a routine discussion primarily focused on drivers' work arrangements. They clarified that the scheduling of drivers is based on bus routes, service times, and the overall network and that they have mechanisms in place to optimize operations according to the operational environment to better meet social and passenger needs. They reiterated that all drivers' work arrangements comply with the Transport Department's guidelines.
Regarding the requirement for drivers to inspect bus cleanliness, the company stated that drivers must check the bus at the end of each trip and report any litter to the cleaning staff for follow-up.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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