Bus drivers fear for their jobs as Government cuts ‘underused’ routes

Bus drivers fear they may face the axe or have their shifts slashed as a consequence of the State Government’s planned route cuts, the Transport Workers Union says.

Passengers Sasha St George and Lillian Opitz ride the 150 bus to Osborne, one of the routes flagged to be cut. Picture: Tait Schmaal

• Petition against Government’s planned bus service cuts
• ‘Ghost’ bus routes face cuts

Bus drivers fear they may face the axe or have their shifts slashed as a consequence of the State Government’s planned route cuts, the Transport Workers Union says.

The cuts — which the Opposition says will amount to 1170 services being dumped or shortened — will take effect on January 27.

However, the Government says bus contractors have assured it there will be no sackings and instead natural attrition and a reduced need for overtime would balance the workforce.

The changes are set to save taxpayers’ $3.5 million and will not affect 99.7 per cent of commuters, the Government says.

The cuts are the first to be rolled out as part of a plan to slash $46 million from public transport.

TWU SA/NT Branch official Matt Burnell said the changes could “result in job losses, reductions in existing hours worked and are an attack on the workplace security of hardworking bus drivers serving the community”.

“We are deeply concerned that the reduction in services will give the private companies contracted to staff the Adelaide Metro network no alternative but to cut bus drivers’ jobs and hours,” he said.

“Many of our members are worried about whether they will have a job come end of January as the two main bus companies will have a surplus of employees for the routes they will be servicing.”

Mr Burnell said the union was “calling on (Transport) Minister (Stephan) Knoll to get serious about public transport in Adelaide and make investments in the long-term viability of the network rather than cutting vital services”.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas condemned the cuts.

“The Marshall Liberal Government promised ‘More Jobs and Better Services’ but their cuts to public transport are set to deliver fewer jobs and worse services,” he said.

“The Marshall Liberal Government must reverse these cuts to public transport and

guarantee quality services for passengers and certainty for drivers.”

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll described the concerns over jobs losses and shift reductions as “scaremongering from the Labor Opposition and their union mates”.

“The contractors responsible for metropolitan bus services have advised me there is absolutely no intention to reduce their workforce,” he said.

“The State Government has a responsibility to provide services that represent best value for South Australian taxpayers.

“The bus routes identified either have extremely low patronage or run side-by-side along a much more efficient, faster train line.”

Mr Knoll also said there were “categorically no cuts to train services”.

Labor yesterday launched a petition as part of a campaign to convince the Government to reverse its decision to slash services.

Opposition members and volunteers will be at various Adelaide bus stops collecting signatures and the petition can also be accessed online.

Labor says the contact details of those who sign the petition will not be used for other campaigning but may be used to keep people up-to-date with the bus service issue.

Meanwhile, Labor has seized on figures that show Government Ministers spent $6383 on chauffeured cars and limousines during six overseas and interstate trips.

It says the “extravagance” cannot be justified when the Government is cutting bus services.

“The Marshall Liberal Government has one set of rules for them, and another set of rules for everyday South Australians,” government accountability spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said.

Mr Knoll dismissed the Opposition’s criticism as hypocrisy, saying Labor “gorged themselves on taxpayer dollars, including overseas travel, transport and in some cases Argentinian wine” while it was in Government for 16 years.

“At the March election, South Australians voted for a more responsible, financially prudent government and we are focused on getting on with the job of delivering better outcomes for the people of this state,” he said.