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The chief executive of the Department of Community Culture and Leisure says the announcement of next week's bus drivers' strike is a surprise.
Negotiations were improving between the department and Unite representatives, according to Nick Black.
The next round of industrial action will commence on Wednesday, March 6, between 7:30am and 9:30am, and 3pm and 5pm.
Mr Black says outside influences in the UK don't seem to fully understand the Island's situation:
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