Ireland Strike: Why Is This Bus Driver Insisting He's Only Parked?

Transcript of the segment

What BBN said on air. The facts are in the original report: BBC.

1. Hank LedgerHundreds of thousands of public sector workers are on strike across the Republic of Ireland today, in an ongoing pay dispute with the government.

2. Hank LedgerWith me via satellite is Ferdia Mulcahy, a school bus driver in County Kilbrannock. Mr. Mulcahy, are you on strike this morning?

3. Ferdia MulcahyAh no, I'm not on strike at all. I'm only parked. The bus just likes it here, and so do I.

4. Hank LedgerSo you're parked. Is that why there's a sign on your dashboard reading, and I'm quoting it, fair pay now?

5. Ferdia MulcahyThat's my cousin's sign. I'm only parked, and I'm minding it for him. He's on a different bus.

6. Hank LedgerThere appear to be eleven other buses parked in a circle around you, and I can see flasks.

7. Ferdia MulcahyIt's a very friendly car park. And the engine is off because I'm only parked, as I said, and a man needs his tea.

8. Hank LedgerTea.

9. Ferdia MulcahyA strike has no tea like this. I mean, a strike, were there one, would have worse tea. I'm only parked, I'm telling you.

10. Hank LedgerMr. Mulcahy, let me ask you directly. Are children getting to school on your route this morning?

11. Ferdia MulcahyThey are not, no. They're at home, parked, like myself. And I'm only parked because nobody will tell me what the pay is.

12. Hank LedgerSo the government wants to know whether you're striking, and you want to know what you're being paid.

13. Ferdia MulcahyThat's the whole thing, yes. Neither of us has an answer, and one of us has a thermos.

14. Hank LedgerThank you for not striking, Mr. Mulcahy.

15. Ferdia MulcahyAny time. Half the country's only parked this morning, you know.