SYDNEY (
AFP) - A group of Australian bus drivers who say they were sacked for being too fat are to appeal to an arbitration panel, a report said.
Seventeen drivers were refused a chance to renew work contracts when a new bus company took over in the southern city of Adelaide, the Australian Associated Press quoted Transport Workers Union official Alex Gallacher as saying.
The new employers deem it an occupational health and safety issue, Gallacher said.
"They say the seat (limit) is 130 kilograms (286 pounds) -- why don't they just get a bigger seat? You can make seats for 150kg."
The union believes the tubby drivers were not re-employed because the company considers them a greater insurance risk.
"The reality is, if you get 600 bus drivers together, see if you can find a skinny one," Gallacher said. "It's the sort of job that lends itself to people being a bit overweight."
Gallacher said some of the 17 had already complained to the Equal Opportunities Commission and the rest would follow suit.
