Scores of travellers were left stranded yesterday when Public Transport Services Corporation (PTSC) workers walked off the job.

Drivers, cleaners, mechanics and other maintenance staff walked off their jobs to protest stalled wage negotiations.

Up till late yesterday evening a meeting between PTSC management and the Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU) failed to resolve the issue, leaving hundreds of bus users facing the crush of people looking for alternative forms of transport out of Port of Spain yesterday.

The workers, many of whom gathered in small groups on the compound, said they walked off the job just after midday when word came that there was no resolution to their wage negotiation issue and that the next meeting date was fixed for October 24.

PTSC general manager Roland Ford said while they were unhappy with the action, the management's hands were tied.

"We are asking for some intervention from the minister at this point, because we cannot resolve this issue without them," Forde said.

Forde said he did receive communication from Transport Minister Chandresh Sharma's office that he would meet with the union and workers representatives to resolve the situation.

But Roland Sutherland, head of TIWU, yesterday said the workers were "peeved" at the lack of resolution and they would remain off the job until their wages were settled.

"Same thing, workers fed up," Sutherland said.

"The workers found that the negotiations taking too long and it was already delayed and they are peeved," Sutherland said.

The workers, he said, would not return to work until they have an answer from management.

The buses remained lined up along the parking area to the back of City Gate facility yesterday leaving hundreds of commuters, many school children, heading to the maxi-taxi service.

A small contingent of police officers was on hand to maintain the peace, but the workers said it was not necessary as it was not a protest.

"Those two buses just shut down ma'am, we cannot do anything for that," a driver said, motioning to the stalled buses blocking the exit route.

When asked about the mechanics, the driver simply shrugged, saying he could not answer for them.