WORKERS at the country??s only publicly owned bus company have called for a rethink over the reinstatement of its chief executive after an investigation into his conduct.

WORKERS at the country??s only publicly owned bus company have called for a rethink over the reinstatement of its chief executive after an investigation into his conduct.

Unite the union called on Edinburgh City Council to reconsider the move to keep Ian Craig in his role at Lothian Buses in the latest round of the boardroom fracas at the firm.

The union said the company has been blighted by acrimony with Mr Craig absent from his post while investigations were carried out into his leadership, before he was cleared.

Former Chair Ann Faulds, who quit over the controversy, claimed an earlier decision was made to remove Mr Craig from the post at boardroom level but the council denied this.

Ms Faulds had claimed the board unanimously agreed to sack the chief executive, who is paid £270,000 a year.

Unite Regional Industrial Officer Tony Trench said yesterday the row was hitting staff morale.

He added: ??The travelling public of Edinburgh and the Lothians will be looking on aghast.

??They expect Lothian Buses to be the affordable and efficient service it??s always been because after all, that??s what their taxes pay for.

??The workforce has bent over backwards in the last few years to ensure the company??s continued success while helping to get the tram service up and running ?? which has been no mean feat.

??We believe the people making the decisions affecting the future of Lothian Buses should think again and listen to its workers who are unanimous in their rejection of the current strife.??

Council leader Andrew Burns said he met with union representatives this week and added: ??Many of the concerns they raised are identical to the concerns I have ?? and we constructively discussed the need for everyone at Lothian Buses to work together to move things on positively and constructively, for the benefit of all the staff and the many, many thousands of people who rely on their services day in, day out.

??Tony Depledge has already made great strides towards this as Interim Chair and I urge Unite to work with him and with all the management team towards the continued success of the company.??