Support to have the woman who was sacked from her bus driving job for being too short reinstated has increased.
So far the petition calling for her reinstatement has surpassed 27,000 signatures as dozens protested outside Queens Road depot in Manchester on Tuesday.
Others have taken to social media demanding that Tracey Scholes is given back her job.
Scholes was served a termination notice that requires her to leave the job by February after serving in the Go North West company for 34 years. The company said that she was too short and could not drive the remodeled bus that is plying her route.
This is after she declined numerous proposals by the company that intended to have her keep her work.
For safety reasons, Scholes was offered a role in another bus that was more suitable to her but she rejected the changes which meant a reduction of her working hours as well as her pay.
Go North West adjusted the wing mirrors of their buses meaning that the 57-year old widow had to lean around a pillar so that she could see them and therefore making it hard for her to reach the pedals.
The mother of three, who was the first ever female driver at the Manchester depot, says she just wants her job back since she can not afford to cut her working hours
“I’ve never had a problem driving the vehicles in 34 years, but they’ve moved one mirror on certain vehicles… and it’s caused a blind spot for me,” the widow said.
According to the Go North West spokesperson, the buses were redesigned for safety reasons and their vehicles are adjustable to suit every individual’s stature.
“We have 13,000 bus drivers UK-wide of varying height, including a number who are 5ft or below, and only one driver has raised a concern,” he said.
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