THE island's two oldest and most influential trade unions -- the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the National Workers' Union (NWU) -- yesterday blasted the Government for the 60 per cent hike in fares to ride Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses.

The unions said the increases, which are set to take effect on April 1, are unjustified, given the current public sector wage freeze and heavy job losses across several sectors.

Transport Minister Mike Henry announced yesterday that the JUTC's adult fare will move from $50 to $80, a 60 per cent increase. Children, the elderly and the disabled will pay 33 1/3 per cent more, which will see the fare moving from $15 to $20.

In explaining his decision, Henry said, "We factored in all that we could in arriving at the new rates and we will in turn hold the JUTC accountable for better service to the travelling public, and improved fiscal performance."

The JUTC was last granted a fare increase in 2005.

But Vincent Morrison, president of the NWU that represents more than 35,000 workers, said a 60 per cent increase was unreasonable at this time.

"There is no disposable income... over 60,000 workers have lost jobs across the country, everything is down in many of the main industries and Government owes public sector workers $30 million," Morrison told the Observer last night.

"That 60 per cent could be found if the JUTC takes a serious look at its own internal deficiencies," he told the Observer.

Kavan Gayle, president-general of the BITU, which represents more than 20,000 workers across the island, said the huge bus fare hike would mean added pressure for thousands of people, given that a number of workers have not received an increase due to various challenges being faced by their employers.

"Given the cost of operating a transportation system, the JUTC requires some level of increase but not to that extent," Gayle told the Observer last night.

However, he said that with the increase the public should now be given a secure, safe and efficient transport service.

Yesterday, several commuters who spoke with the Observer lamented what they described as an exorbitant increase.

"It might seem like it is just $30 more but it adds up for the week and the month because I have to take four buses every day," said Clarine White.

White, an administrative assistant, said she was already struggling to pay $1,000 a week or $4,000 a month in bus fares and does not now know how she would manage to find the extra $600 a week or $2,400 per month.

"I don't see (a) dollar go on my pay all of last year and I don't hear about any for this year, so what am I going to do?" she asked.

Carol Hines, a single mother of three school-aged children, said she is already dreading April 1 as she would have to find the increased cost for both herself and her young ones.

"What (are) we going to do? It don't make no sense we talk because Government can say them no have no money to give us public sector workers an increase, yet they expect us to find the money to pay their increase," Hines said.

Troy Taylor said while the increase was long overdue, a 60 per cent hike was way too much.

"Them should even put on one $10 or $15, but $30 is a big lick when you factor in that everything else gone up, except we pay," he said.

Corporate communications manager at the JUTC, Reginald Allen, said the same $80 will be charged by all of the operators in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region, who are operating under the sub-franchise licensing from the JUTC