Transport Workers Union says industrial action possible over State Government’s bus route cuts

“Nothing is off the table”, the Transport Workers Union has warned — including strikes — in its fight with the State Government over cuts to bus routes.

12/2/19 - Transport Workers Union, SA Labor and Community groups held a protest against the State Liberal Governments cuts to Adelaide Metro Bus services on the steps of Parliament House. Photo - Naomi Jellicoe

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Bus drivers have put industrial action including strike action “on the table” in the battle to maintain routes and job shifts.

Timetable changes began on January 27 with 110 runs cut from 30 Adelaide bus routes to save $3.5 million each year, based on low patronage numbers.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll dubbed some of the runs “ghost buses” because after number crunching it was revealed the only person on board was the driver.

The Transport Workers Union, state Opposition and community groups on Tuesday rallied against the cuts on the steps of Parliament House on Tuesday, part of an ongoing campaign against the $46 million in savings from public transport announced in the State Budget last September.

“Industrial action is the last resort of any union but if we keep seeing this constant attack I can’t rule that out,’’ TWU organiser Matt Burnell said.

“Our drivers will dictate that in response to the Liberal Government but I am not going to take that off the table at this point.’’

Bus drivers, transport workers and community members rally against the bus route cuts. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The State Government has no plans to water down the cuts, which are a key plank of its State Budget “repair savings”.

Mr Burnell said any industrial action would have to come from a future mass meeting of drivers and a vote from the floor of the meeting.

“We are looking potentially at 10,000 reductions to services (based on total State Budget cuts of $46 million) and that is a significant number that will not just be a reduction in hours but mass job losses.”

Mr Burnell repeated union fears — despite assurances given to the State Government by bus contractors — that there will be driver sackings because of the cuts.

Mr Burnell said bus companies had already begun winding back the hours drivers were able to work.

“The only natural attrition so far is happening because they are starving people of hours and they are moving on to other jobs,’’ he said.

“What they have already started doing is stopping long-term casuals being able to shift to full-time work.’’

Disability advocate, vision impaired Lisa Pearce, also addressed the crowd of around 200 protesters on the steps of Parliament House.

“With these cuts many people are finding themselves in isolation and they can’t get out to visit, to participate or to work, and yes people with a disability do work,’’ she said.

Bus companies are currently contracted to run 9800 trips per day, making the 110 axed runs so far around 1 per cent of daily services.