Thursday, February 15, 2007

BLACKPOOL bus drivers could go hungry in a row over one-armed bandits.
Transport bosses have told more than 400 workers they will lose their staff
canteen if they vote to get rid of a pair of fruit machines. Around 30
disgruntled workers have approached union bosses saying they are spending
too much money on the machines - some reportedly pumping as much as £80 a
week into them. Fearing they are becoming addicted, they have asked for the
"bandits" to be removed from the Blackpool Transport canteen and at the main
bus depot at Rigby Road. Bosses have agreed to let the workers decide and a
ballot is being held tomorrow.
However, Rigby Road chiefs today warned that money generated by the machines
helps fund the privately run staff canteen above BHS on Market Street. If
the machines go - so does food and drink for the workers. One bus driver,
who did not want to be named, told The Gazette: "We're basically being told
by management 'If you want to eat, you will have to gamble!' "That is not on
and many people here are very unhappy by this. They've given us a hard
choice because people want the machines to go and the canteen to stay open.
"Why should it be that if you don't want a fruit machine in your canteen
they will close the canteen - how can they treat people like this?" The
canteen is subsidised both by Blackpool Transport and earnings from
gambling. It is believed the two fruit machines raise around £30,000 a year.
Steve Burd (above), managing director for Blackpool Transport, said the
decision rested with the workers' vote. He explained: "This is a matter
which is entirely up to them. "It's very simple. If the workers choose to
vote to get rid of the machines the canteen facilities will go, but the rest
room will remain. "There are a minority of staff who have spoken to the
unions saying they have a problem with the gaming machines. "We've told them
for the canteen to stay open there needs to be some money coming in from the
machines which are based at Market Street and Rigby Road. "We cannot afford
to subsidise the facilities on our own.