Former Go Bus driver Murray Muir said he was dismissed on February 9 for using a Reading Cinema toilet while on duty on December 21 last year.
While driving a route, he found himself in urgent need of a toilet stop and drove to the Octagon, with the intention of using the public toilets near the Dunedin Public Library.
''I was absolutely hanging out. I thought 'I'm not going to make it to the public toilets', so I went into the picture theatre.''
When he entered Reading Cinema, a female usher told him the toilets were for customers and to leave and use the public toilets.
Mr Muir ignored the usher's request.
''I said 'sorry, it's an emergency' and I went into the toilet.''
He never swore at, or touched the usher, he said. On his way out of the cinema, Mr Muir apologised to management.
He returned to the bus and finished the route. Cinema manager Henry-Stewart Landsborough wrote a letter of complaint in late December, stating Mr Muir was abusive and swore after being told the toilet was for customers.
Tramways Union national secretary Kevin O'Sullivan, of Wellington, said he had sent a letter to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment this month, seeking mediation.
If the mediation failed, the union would take Mr Muir's personal grievance to the Employment Relations Authority.
Go Bus Transport Ltd branch manager Kayne Baas declined to comment when contacted, because it was a confidential employment matter.
