It has been reported that bus drivers in Detroit staged an apparent sickout on Saturday, possibly because the city did not allow city buses to be used in a driver's funeral procession.

The Detroit News has reported that Lovevette Williams, head of the Detroit Department of Transportation, said so many drivers failed to report for work that service was cut by about half. In a news conference at the Rosa Parks Conference Center, she said some riders might have to wait 90 minutes for a bus.

The union had not announced any job action, and the DDOT was taken by surprise when drivers started calling in sick at 4:30 a. m. Williams said she had not talked to union officials.

It was further reported that one driver who did not want to be named told the News the department, without giving a reason, had refused to allow buses for the funeral procession of a driver who was to be buried Saturday. The custom had been to put wreaths on the buses along with the dead driver's badge number, the driver said.

Drivers felt the city showed a "lack of respect" for their coworker, he further added. (With Inputs from Agencies)