Bus boss in job storm
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• The recent appointment of Ted Hesketh to the position of chief executive of Ulsterbus, which will be vacated by Werner Heubeck in six months, has been the subject of a complaint to the Department of Economic Development by the Social and Democratic Labour Party of Ncrthern Ireland.
SDLP employment spokesman Sean Fan-en lodged the complaint when he discovered that the post had not been advertised: "I believe that Ul sterbus was not operating within the spirit of current employment legislation when the recommendation was made to appoint Hesketh," Faren told Commercial Motor this week.
The Fair Employment Agency in Belfast says there is nothing illegal about this appointment, although it would expect less senior jobs to be advertised. Ulsterbus says that senior positions are normally advertised in the press, but the post of chief executive is de cided by members of the Ulsterbus board.
Ulsterbus and Northern Ireland Railways are both accountable to the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which in turn answers to the Northern Ireland Office.
Hesketh joined Ulsterbus in 1971 as assistant accountant and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief executive in 1984. Heubeck will retire in October and intends to remain in Ulster.