Commuters are being urged to allow extra time as bus drivers begin indefinite industrial action over pay and conditions, described as so dire, nine in ten new drivers leave the job within six months.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) says members will take protected industrial action in the Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, inner north-west and lower North Shore, after months of stalled negotiations with private operators.
As part of the industrial action, drivers will refuse to operate buses showing warning lights on their dashboards, and will require vehicles to be fully fuelled before shifts begin.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) confirmed restrictions on certain buses began from 12.01am on Wednesday 4 November. Further work bans affecting buses leaving depots started from 12.01am on Thursday 5 November, and the action is expected to continue indefinitely.
Buses are still expected to run, but services may be delayed or cancelled.
Transport for NSW said it is working with the operators, including Keolis Northern Beaches, Transdev John Holland and Busways, to limit disruption and prioritise school services. The industrial action comes as students are sitting the HSC exams this week.
Passengers can check transportnsw.info or the Opal Travel app for real-time updates.
Union: ‘a last resort’
RTBU Secretary Toby Warnes described the action as regrettable and “a last resort”.
“Our members have significantly reduced their original claim, kept services running through a multi-year shortage of drivers and buses and held off on disruptive industrial action for months to bargain in good faith,” Mr Warnes said.
“We do not want to disrupt passengers and simply want an agreement that finally makes bus driving a job people can afford to live on and provide a roof above their heads.”
The NSW Government has committed $200 million to support improved wages for more than 8,000 bus drivers. However, Mr Warnes said that the system of private bus operations in NSW was designed to suppress drivers’ wages.
“The private operators want to make profits for their shareholders, and the Government wants to tighten its purse strings, and our members who actually drive the buses are caught in the middle,” he said.
“These contracts are worth hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, while low pay, poor conditions, and a system built to deliver poor services continue to plague passengers across the busiest bus regions in Sydney.”
He added that the biggest threat to reliable bus services is experienced drivers deciding the job is no longer worth doing, and that this is already happening, saying the government is looking overseas to fill shortages.
“Passengers will only get the reliable network they deserve when bus driving is again a job people can afford to stay in,” Mr Warnes explained.
In a statement sent to Manly Observer this evening, Kelos Northern Beaches confirmed they had been advised of the industrial action.
“While bus services are expected to continue operating, some services may be affected during the period of industrial action.
Keolis Northern Beaches is continuing to assess the operational impacts of the industrial action and is working closely with Transport for NSW to minimise disruption to customers where possible. Customers will be advised of any service change as early as practicable. Customers are encouraged to plan ahead and check the latest service information at Transportnsw.info.
Enterprise bargaining remains ongoing between the RTBU, three Sydney bus operators, including Keolis Northern Beaches, with the NSW Government’s Driver Wages and Reliability Package forming part of those discussions.
Keolis Northern Beaches remains committed to working constructively with the RTBU, bargaining representatives, employees and other operators as part of the bargaining process. We recognise the impact these disruptions may have on customers and will continue to provide updates as service impacts become clearer. “
Meanwhile, Northern Beaches misses out on bus boost
Manly MP James Griffin has criticised the state government after a major bus service expansion announced this week failed to include the Northern Beaches.
Transport Minister John Graham on Wednesday announced 3,000 additional weekly bus services across NSW, starting on 15 and 22 November. It will include new 24-hour bus services, improved connections across Greater Western Sydney and more services for regional communities.
“More frequent buses in growing communities, better connections to other public transport and more services running through the night,” Mr Graham said.
“These improvements have been informed by extensive community consultation, and we’ll continue listening to passengers as we work to deliver a better, more reliable bus network.”
Mr Griffin said the announcement comes despite repeated calls from himself, Wakehurst Member Michael Regan, and Pittwater Member Jacqui Scruby to improve local bus services.
“Northern Beaches MPs have raised the issue of poor bus services in NSW Parliament on 70 separate occasions this term, made countless representations to the Minister, met with the bus operator, conducted community surveys and held public forums, but none of it mattered because the Government found funding and resources to deliver 3,000 additional weekly services across Sydney without allocating a single one to the Northern Beaches,” Mr Griffin said.
“[Commuters] need tangible improvements to local bus services and a State Government that gives the Northern Beaches the same priority as the rest of Sydney.
“[The] announcement confirms that regardless of whether the local Member is Independent or Liberal, the Minns Labor Government is not interested in delivering for Northern Beaches commuters.”
A TfNSW spokesperson said they regularly review timetables for reliability, capacity and frequency and over the last two years, 172 weekly trips have been added across the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore, including additional trips on B-Line and other popular routes. They pointed to the commitment for ten additional double-decker buses being introduced to the B-Line, and 43 articulated (bendy) buses back in action after servicing and repairs.
“Brookvale Depot now has 175 new electric buses operating services across the Northern Beaches, representing a significant renewal of the local bus fleet,” the spokesperson said.
“The latest 3,000-service package is focused on growing communities, areas experiencing increased passenger demand and improving connections to rail and Metro, while opportunities for further improvements on the Northern Beaches are being considered through the Northern Beaches Network Review.
“Driver availability remains a constraint on the Northern Beaches and needs to be considered alongside any proposal to increase services.
“Transport’s immediate priority is working with Keolis Northern Beaches to strengthen its driver workforce and improve the reliable delivery of existing scheduled services.”
