Staff who lost their jobs at a failed bus operator, D Jones & Son of Wrexham, were shocked when the owner told them that he hoped they all found work at another company that “treats them like s***.”
His comments stunned drivers who came to a meeting to hear Gary Jones tell them that they are facing Christmas with no work.
The firm closed without warning on Saturday (16 December), leaving passengers without buses, the council scrambling to cover schools contracts and 23 staff out of work (routeONE, News, 20 December).
One of the drivers recorded Mr Jones’ comments, which have now been published by the Daily Post newspaper.
The firm has not made any comment, nor responded to press enquiries since its closure.
Mr Jones told the staff he was looking forward to a relaxing holiday, but his wishes for his employees were far less festive.
He said he was suffered chest and arm pains, saying: “For what? To keep people in work that really don’t want to be here with us.
“So I wish everybody good luck and I hope that you go to a company that will treat you all like s***, because if the drivers are treating me like s*** that’s what you are going to get elsewhere.”
Chris Palmer, who drove for the company, disputes Mr Jones’s claims about drivers’ attitudes.
“He criticises the drivers but every single one of them completed their shift on Saturday, even though they knew they were losing their jobs.
“We had been dropped in it, but all the passengers got to where they wanted to go.”
Mr Palmer said he finally got to speak to Mr Jones with other drivers at around 1620hrs on the day of the closure and couldn’t believe what he heard.
He said: “None of us deserved that. I feel very bitter about the way we have been treated. I went in on my day off during the snow to help him out.
“I feel let down that I have given Mr Jones 18 months’ service and I have worked duties at very short notice.
“Yet he has tarnished all the drivers with the same brush.”
The Daily Post story and recording are here
