The public transport drivers’ strike in Vilnius entered its fourth day on December 8 after Vilniaus Viesasis Transportas (Vilnius Public Transport, VVT) and the municipal company’s trade union failed to make progress in talks.
“The strike continues, and given the company’s actions, it will continue next week,” Algirdas Markevicius, president of the VVT trade union, said on December 7.
“We don’t see any breakthrough; we don’t see any willingness to talk; we don’t see any effort on the part of the company to reach a deal,” he added.
VVT chief Darius Aleknavicius said that “it is the trade union that has shown no willingness to seek solutions and agreements as soon as possible”.
Aleknavicius noted, however, that the trade union on December 7 fulfilled its obligations to ensure a minimum service level during the strike.
On December 8 morning, Vilnius District Court was to consider VVT’s request to impose interim measures and suspend the strike due to the failure to ensure that 50% of the routes are serviced, but Aleknavicius said that the company was considering withdrawing the lawsuit.
Bus and trolleybus drivers in Vilnius went on an indefinite strike on December 5 amid disagreements between the VVT administration and the trade union over the pay system. More than half of the capital’s buses did not leave their depots. (LRT/Business World Magazine)
