RTBU threatened to boycott Chermside Interchange after alleged driver bashing

A threat by bus drivers to boycott a major Brisbane interchange on Saturday will not go ahead after a Queensland Industrial Relations Commission hearing.

Bus drivers in the RTBU had threatened to boycott Chermside Interchange until Brisbane City Council provides more security. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

A THREAT by bus drivers to boycott a major Brisbane interchange on Saturday will not go ahead after a Queensland Industrial Relations Commission hearing.

Drivers were threatening to boycott the Chermside Bus Interchange from 5am on Saturday morning after an alleged bashing of one of their own this week.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s Tom Brown said drivers would boycott the interchange unless extra security was posted to the station.

A Brisbane City Council bus pictured on Gympie Road, Kedron. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

He said it followed a driver being allegedly racially vilified and attacked at the interchange on Tuesday.

“The driver had pulled up at Chermside for a meal, so he was making his way from his bus to the meal room,” he said.

“The fellow racially abused him, and then attacked him.

“The driver fought back but he was no match for him. He got several blows to the head, he was fighting for his life.

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“Chermside interchange is well known for chroming, substance abuse and abuse of drivers.”

Mr Brown said the driver was psychologically scarred by the incident, had blurred vision and injuries to his shoulders, arms and hands.

A police spokesman said investigations into the incident were continuing and no-one had yet been charged.

However, Brisbane City Council claimed the driver instigated the dispute.

A Brisbane City Council bus pictured on Gympie Road, Kedron, Brisbane 9th of June 2019. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

Following a hearing at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission on Friday afternoon, the Rail Tram and Bus Union will not take protected industrial action as proposed.

The parties are set to meet again on Tuesday afternoon, and then again on Friday, August 9, if both parties can’t work out a resolution.