SMRT investigating still-absent bus drivers involved in illegal strike
By Sara Grosse | Posted: 28 November 2012 1302 hrs
SINGAPORE: Six SMRT bus drivers from China on morning shift did not report for work on Wednesday, amid investigations into an illegal strike over salaries.
SMRT said on Wednesday afternoon that it is investigating why they were absent.
A SMRT spokesperson said it has not ruled out the possibility that they're unwell and added that it may not be right to assume that there's anything malicious, as of now.
A driver from China who had completed his shift on Wednesday morning told reporters at Woodlands dormitory, where some of the drivers are staying, that all drivers from his room went to work.
He said staff from the Chinese embassy spoke to the drivers at about 11:00pm on Tuesday.
Another driver from China said most of the drivers had returned to work.
The drivers were reported to have boarded buses at about 4:00am on Wednesday to be ferried to the bus depots to start their shift.
A police car and an ambulance were at Woodlands Dormitory for about half an hour on Wednesday morning. Another ambulance is still at the dormitory.
A female driver from China, who did not report for work on Monday but returned to work on Tuesday, told reporters that SMRT has treated them fairly. She said she understands that SMRT will give the workers an answer on their salary grievances by the end of the week.
SMRT said late on Tuesday night that 171 drivers staged a sit-in at the workers' dormitory in Woodlands. And, on Tuesday, 88 did not turn up for work.
- CNA/ck/sf
- wong chee tat :)
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