Busways drivers who are members of the Transport Workers’ Union NSW stopped work this morning between 5am and 9am.
The stoppage affected services including school transport in the Hawkesbury, Central Coast and in Western Sydney areas.
TWU NSW did alert Government, Catholic and Independent school authorities regarding the stoppage, to enable schools to get the message out last week.
According to the TWU Busways management ignored all requests to negotiate with drivers regarding enterprise agreements.
Busways management put their agreement out to the vote on Thursday and 80 percent of drivers voted “no” against the proposal.
Richard Olsen, secretary of TWU NSW said drivers across a number of depots have sent the message that they are ready to negotiate with Busways over the terms and conditions in an agreement.
“Busways continue to pursue their own version of an agreement rather than work with the agreement used widely across the industry,” Mr Olsen said.
“Busways have only responded with punitive action against some drivers involved in previous stop work meetings and a failed court case.
“I am questioning their commitment to employees who help Busways meet the needs of NSW Government transport contracts” Mr Olsen said.”
Some of the conditions that concern drivers in the agreement proposed by Busways include:
- · No guarantee of permanent work.
- · Drivers forced to answer anonymous complaints
- · No representation allowed at disciplinary meetings
- · Company only to appoint workplace representatives
- · Drivers will be forced to take leave when it suits the company
- · No company provided wage increases until 2018.
